Self‐assembled monolayers of alkyltrichiorosilanes: Building blocks for future organic materials

Optoelectronics and molecular electronics are two areas of potential application for monolayers of ordered organic materials. These layers from spontaneously on the immersion of an appropriate substrate into a solution of an active surfactant in an organic solvent. Very strong molecule–substrate interactions result, for example between the organo‐siloxane trimer and a hydroxylated surface (see figure). The build up of mono and multilayers, the nature of the interface interactions and the applications of these organized structures are discussed. (Formula Presented.)