Schematic of the monolayer self-assembly process studied by the NIST/NCSU
team. The silicon substrate is approximately 1 x 5 cm in dimensions. The
source (left) is a mixture of organosilane (OS) molecules and parafin oil (
to control the evaportion rate). The whole system is enclosed in a Petri
dish. The concentration of OS molecules is higher near the source and the
ordering process initiates near this region. Molecules behind the advancing
self-assembly front are relatively ordered, while mole
