Methyl-terminated alkanethiols, such as nonanethiols are used for the production of hydrophobic SAMs. It can also be used in mixed SAMs to give a hydrophobic background and to space other functional groups farther apart. The short chain length of 1-nonanethiol still forms a well ordered monolayer, but allows other functional groups on alkanethiols with longer chain length, such as C11 or C16, to protrude above the monolayer when used in a mixed monolayer.