Generation of Surface Amino Groups on Aromatic Self-Assembled Monolayers by Low Energy Electron Beams—A First Step Towards Chemical Lithography

Chemically defined surface patterning has been achieved via irradiation with low-energy electrons. Irradiation of nitro-arene-thiol monolayers leads to the reduction of the nitro groups to amino groups, which can then be further chemically modified. The Figure shows such a monolayer that was irradiated through a copper grid followed by acylation with trifluoroacetic acid anhydride.