Atomic composition and stability of Langmuir–Blodgett monolayers based on siloxane dimer of quaterthiophene on the surface of polycrystalline gold

Atomic composition of monolayers based on siloxane dimer of quaterthiophene deposited by Langmuir–Blodgett technique on a silicon dioxide surface partially covered by gold film and the stability of these monolayers upon surface treatment by Ar$^{+}$ ions bombardment have been studied. Experimental results for the chemical composition of a series of studied surfaces have been obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) by recording XPS spectra of C 1$s$, O 1$s$, S 2$p$, and Au 4$f$ core levels. The relative concentration of Au and Si substrate atoms and the composition of ex situ prepared surface under study were determined within 10–15%, which indicates that Langmuir–Blodgett monolayers based on siloxane dimer of quaterthiophene form continuous coating in a considerable extent. Prior to the treatment of the studied surface by Ar$^{+}$ ions bombardment, carbon- and oxygen-containing surface adsorbates provided a considerable contribution to the results of XPS measurements. The surface cleaning by Ar$^{+}$ ions with energy 3 keV at electric current through sample of $\sim$1 $\mu$A in several 30-$s$ steps has led to the etching of surface adsorbates and next Langmuir–Blodgett films of the siloxane dimer of quaterthiophene.