Electroless formation of gold deposits under positively charged surfactant monolayers

The electroless formation of gold deposits having a high two-dimensional (2D) character along the surface of aqueous hydrogen tetrachloroaurate solutions coated by a positively charged dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DODA) monolayer is reported. Chronopotentiometry experiments have established the importance of the organization of the DODA molecules at the gas/liquid interface on the formation of the deposits. The addition of chloride anions in the subphase induces a strong modification of the morphology of the gold deposits, from compact structures to finely, ramified patterns.