The addition of H-AOT tol-Arg solution leads to the transition of the self-assembled structures, which is driven by the synergistic effect of the double hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic effect.
BEPE SAMs formed on the iron surface by both electrostatic interaction and chemical covalent binding with island-like surface morphology, while the BEPW SAMs formed only through P–O–Fe bond with nodule-like appearance.