Surface plasmon spectroscopy of organic monolayer assemblies

Because the surface plasmon resonance is a sensitive probe of metallic surfaces we have measured quantitatively the changes that occur in surface plasmon resonances from coatings of thin layers of cadmium arachidate of different but known thicknesses on silver films. An ATR (attenuated total reflection) experimental arrangement was used. The dispersion of the refractive index of the organic layer was derived by a least square fit of the measured reflectivity curves and it agrees well with other data obtained by different methods. The influence of a possible intermediate layer between the silver surface and the first organic monolayer due to the preparation process is also discussed. © 1978.