Metal-coated substrates for scanning probe microscopy, with Au(111) terraces that stay flat and well-defined across several hundred nanometers.
Why Choose arrandee™?
How our substrates stack up against conventional preparation methods
The Conventional Way
- Single crystal = high investment
- Au on cleaved mica: > $100 per sheet
- Polishing single crystals is time-consuming
- Mica-based substrates require H₂ flame annealing
The arrandee™ Way
- arrandee™ substrates = low investment
- arrandee™ cost: < €25 per piece
- Spend your time on research, not preparation
- Requires only a camping gas torch
- Proven Au(111) substrate since 1994
- In stock, usual delivery time 1–2 weeks
Our Products
Gold, silver, and platinum coatings on borosilicate glass, ready for SPM work
Gold on Glass (Au(111))
Our original substrate, with Au(111) terraces several hundred nanometers across. No adhesive layer, packed in glass tubes to protect the surface. In stock, usual delivery time 1–2 weeks.
Silver Substrates (Ag)
Built for plasmonic work: field enhancement, SERS (Raman spectroscopy), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Not currently in production – inquiries welcome.
Platinum Substrates (Pt)
Chemically resistant enough for demanding electrochemistry work, with the electrocatalytic activity researchers rely on for catalysis studies. Not currently in production – inquiries welcome.
Au(111) Gold Substrates for Atomic-Level Research
Substrate quality makes or breaks a nanostructure measurement. Our arrandee™ gold-on-glass substrates carry atomically flat Au(111) terraces extending several hundred nanometers, which is what keeps atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) free of measurement artifacts.
Conventional single crystals need time-consuming polishing. Substrates with titanium or chromium adhesion layers bring their own complications. arrandee™ substrates skip both problems: they're produced on borosilicate glass with a special, adhesive-free deposition process. A simple thermal annealing step (flame annealing) arranges the gold atoms into the stable hexagonal (111) lattice, giving you a high-purity, reproducible surface for demanding atomic-level work.
Built for Self-Assembled Monolayers & Electrochemistry
One of the most common uses for our substrates is growing self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Because thiols bind so strongly to gold, organic molecules arrange themselves into dense, perfectly aligned monolayers on their own. That self-organizing behavior underpins a lot of current work in biosensing, molecular electronics, and nanotechnology more broadly.
The substrates also hold up well for interfacial electrochemistry. Beyond our standard Au(111) gold coating, we offer custom platinum (Pt) and silver (Ag) coatings tailored to your research. And compared to solid single crystals, arrandee™ is the economical choice: you save up to 80% on acquisition cost without giving up surface quality.
Comparison Matrix: Substrates for Nanotechnology
arrandee™ gold-on-glass against the other substrates you'd typically consider for AFM, STM, and SAM prep.
| Feature | arrandee™ Gold-on-Glass | Gold on Mica | Au(111) Single Crystal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready to Use | Yes | No | No |
| Low Acquisition Cost | Yes | No | No |
| Flame Annealing Possible | Yes | Limited | No |
| Requires UHV Preparation | No | Partial | Yes |
| Large Au(111) Terraces | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reproducible Batches | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Fragile Substrate | No | Yes | No |
| Fast Delivery (1–2 Weeks, In Stock) | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Suitable for Teaching Labs | Yes | No | No |
| Easy to Transport | Yes | No | Limited |
See the full substrate comparison → · Read our SAM substrate guide →
Nanotechnology & Substrate Preparation
Background on how noble-metal thin films get used in modern research
The Importance of Atomically Flat Surfaces
AFM and STM place tough demands on the sample substrate. Since the structures under examination sit at the nanometer or Ångström scale, the carrier itself has to be atomically flat, or the measurement picks up artifacts instead of real data.
Our arrandee™ gold-on-glass substrates carry a special, adhesive-free gold coating on borosilicate glass. A simple thermal annealing step (flame annealing) arranges the gold atoms into the hexagonal (111) lattice structure, producing extended, flat terraces well suited to characterizing molecular systems.
Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs)
Organic interface physics and electrochemistry are where these substrates see the most use. Thiols bind so readily to gold that self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) form almost on their own.
The molecular chains line up into a dense, perfectly aligned layer on the Au(111) surface without any outside help. These interfaces underpin modern biosensors and molecular electronic components, and they show up in corrosion-protection research too. Our manufacturing process keeps the surface free of interfering foreign atoms, which matters when purity is what the measurement depends on.
References & Partners
What research groups say after years of working with our substrates
Alberto
Research Group Leader
"For many years I have fully relied on the high quality and reliability of arrandee™'s gold-on-glass samples. The majority of my research is based on these excellent substrates."
Jennifer
ARCH Group, Bangor University
"In the Applied Chemistry and Public Health (ARCH) research group at Bangor University, we use gold arrandee™ as a platform for self-assembled monolayers in a range of different applications."
Frequently Asked Questions
What researchers most often ask us before ordering
How long do arrandee™ gold substrates last?
Thanks to our special adhesive-free manufacturing and packaging in glass tubes, arrandee™ substrates have an extremely long shelf life without any loss of quality.
Can you supply custom sizes or coatings?
Yes, in addition to our standard size (11x11 mm) we also offer custom-made substrates. We can adapt sizes and coatings (e.g. silver, platinum) to your specific research requirements.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes, we supply our products to research institutions and universities worldwide. Our standard products are generally in stock, with a usual delivery time of approximately 1–2 weeks; expedited delivery can often be arranged for urgent requests.
Do the substrates require special cleaning before use?
Unlike single crystals, no time-consuming polishing is necessary. We recommend our proven flame-annealing procedure with a propane/butane torch to obtain optimal Au(111) terraces.
What sets arrandee™ apart from other substrates?
Our substrates offer a cost-effective alternative to solid single crystals. They are easy to handle, require no elaborate preparation, and deliver reproducible, atomically smooth surfaces for SPM applications.