An L-glutamic acid-derived lipid with a terminal thiol has been synthesized and its corresponding self-assembled structure on Au(1 1 1) surfaces described. The surface morphology of the lipid self-assembled monolayer (SAM) exhibits nano-order patterning, where the height of the monolayer (approximately 1.5 nm) could be interpreted as due to the monolayer structure estimated from molecular models. The molecular. orientation in the monolayer is almost perpendicular to the Au(1 1 1) surface depending on the three-point hydrogen-bonding sites in the molecule. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.