The synthesis of self-assembled monolayers on Si (100) substrates of a new fluorescent Zn(II) Schiff-base complex is reported. Chemisorbed species are characterized by the combination of fluorescence scanning near-field optical/atomic force microscopy (SNOM/AFM), and by fluorescence spectroscopy. Both SNOM/AFM results indicate the existence of a monolayer on the surface, while optical SNOM images highlight the contribution of the monolayer to the local fluorescence. While chemisorbed molecular monolayers exhibit a distinct fluorescence, analogous to that observed in solution, cast thin films do not show any emission. Photoluminescent properties of the monolayer can be related to its nanoscale uniform, ordered structure. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2977897]