Self-assembled monolayer formation of distorted cylindrical AOT micelles on gold surfaces

Abstract

Self-assembling features of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (AOT) molecules and micelle adsorption on gold Au(111) surfaces have been examined using molecular dynamics simulation. We argue that AOT micelles display a strong adsorption on gold surfaces resulting in distorted cylindrical micelles attached to the (111) facets. The well protected Au(111) facets decorated by a dense packed elongated ellipsoidal AOT layer hinder the diffusion of the reactant to the (111) facets and could result in the preferential growth of ultra-thin gold nanoplatelets.