Construction of Dithiol‐Based Nanostructures by a Layer‐Exchange Process

One end or two? An α,ω-alkyldithiol can, in principle, bind to a gold substrate through either one or both of its terminal -SH groups. Here, a layer-exchange process is used to produce self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in which the dithiol groups are mainly attached through only one terminus. Thus, devices were prepared with the SAM residing between two gold electrodes, the top electrode formed of a gold nanoparticle cluster (see picture).