The monolayers described in this thesis form at the liquid-solid interface by means of a process known as physisorption. This name signifies that no covalent bonds are formed between the solid phase (the substrate) and the molecules in the aggregate. The substrate can be regarded a template, on which the monolayer can grow. This growth process is known under the name self-assembly. In this thesis, a number of methods to generate self-assembling molecular systems at the liquid-solid interface are described. The importance of interfaces, in chemistry, physics and biology underscores the relevance of the project. The title of this thesis is ”Pattern formation in organic monolayers.” Monolayers have been introduced above. Organic refers to the kind of molecules that are used in the process. Pattern formation is what makes the work described in this thesis interesting. The patterns are intrinsically formed when the molecules adsorb parallel (coplanar) to the surface. The process is in a way comparable to tiling a wall, but on the nanoscale. The molecules (adsorbents) can in principle be laid in a multitude of patterns, depending on their shape.

General introduction Monolayers and patterning Incorporation of functionality Mixing and phase separation in binary systems: A means to control periodicity Toward folded structures at the interface Minimal foldamers in 2D