Self-assembling of Z-α-pyridylcinnamic acid molecules over polycrystalline Ag and Au surfaces followed by FT-IR and atomic force microscopies

Self-assembling layers of Z-2(3′-pyridyl)-3-phenyl propenoic acid molecules were built on silver and gold films prepared by pulsed laser deposition. The dip-coating technique was used for depositing the organic material onto the metals. The clean metal surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy, and the organic structures formed over the metal surfaces were investigated by FT-IR microspectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Various surface structures were identified and their rationalisation was attempted.