Fibronectin adsorption onto polyelectrolyte multilayer films

The Layer-by-layer deposition of positively and negatively charged macromolecular species is an ideal method for constructing thin films incorporating biological molecules. We investigate the adsorption of fibronectin onto polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films using optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy (OWLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). PEM films are formed by adsorption onto Si(Ti)O2 from alternately introduced flowing solutions of anionic poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and cationic poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). Using OWLS, we find the initial rate and overall extent offibronectin adsorption to be greatest on PEM films terminated with a PAH layer. The polarizability density of the adsorbed protein layer, as measured by its refractive index, is virtually identical on both PAH- and PSS-terminated films; the higher adsorbed density on the PAH-terminated film is due to an adsorbed layer of roughly twice the thickness. The binding of monoclonal antibodies specific to the protein's cell binding site is considerably enhanced to fibronectin adsorbed to the PSS layer, indicating a more accessible adsorbed layer. With increased salt concentration, we find thicker PEM films but considerably thinner adsorbed fibronectin layers, owing to increased electrostatic screening. Using AFM, we find adsorbed fibronectin layers to contain clusters; these are more numerous and symmetric on the PSS-terminated film. By considering the electrostatic binding of a segmental model fibronectin molecule, we propose a picture of fibronectin adsorbed primarily in an end-on-oriented monolayer on a PAH-terminated film and as clusters plus side-on-oriented isolated molecules onto a PSS-terminated film.     

Vertical and lateral order in adsorbed water layers on anatase TiO2(101)

The structure and energetics of thin water overlayers on the (101) surface of TiO(2)-anatase have been studied through first-principles molecular dynamics simulations at T = 160 K. At one monolayer coverage, H(2)O molecules are adsorbed at the 5-fold Ti sites (Ti(5c)), forming an ordered crystal-like 2D layer with no significant water-water interactions. For an adsorbed bilayer, H(2)O molecules at both Ti(5c) and bridging oxygen (O(2c)) sites form a partially ordered structure, where the water oxygens occupy regular sites but the orientation of the molecules is disordered; in addition, stress-relieving defects are usually present. When a third layer is adsorbed, very limited parallel and perpendicular order is observed above the first bilayer. The calculated energetics of multilayer adsorption is in good agreement with recent temperature-programmed desorption data.     

Two-dimensional order-disorder transition of argon monolayer adsorbed on graphitized carbon black: kinetic Monte Carlo method

We present results of application of the kinetic Monte Carlo technique to simulate argon adsorption on a graphite surface at temperatures below and above the triple point. We show that below the triple point the densification of the adsorbed layer with loading results in the rearrangement of molecules to form a hexagonal structure, which is accompanied by the release of an additional heat, associated with this disorder-order transition. This appears as a spike in the plot of the heat of adsorption versus loading at the completion of a monolayer on the surface. To describe the details of the adsorbed phase, we analyzed thermodynamic properties and the effects of temperature on the order-disorder transition of the first layer.     

Electrosorption of β-naphthol on graphite

Isotherms for the adsorption of β-naphthol from a buffered aqueous solution of 0.5 M K₂SO₄ onto graphite were detemrined over a range of potential of 1.27 V. The adsorbent was a packed bed of ?100 + 120 mesh graphite powder. Sufficient surface area was available to calculate accurately the amount adsorbed by measuring spectrophotometrically the change in adsorbate concentration in the bulk solution.At all potentials, a Langmuir adsorption isotherm, modified for the displacement of solvent molecules, was followed up to 60–65% of monolayer coverage. The ratio of projected areas of β-naphthol and water molecules was consistent with the experimentally derived number of solvent molecules displaced, six. The largest amount of adsorption observed, 2.5×10^?10 mol cm^?2, agreed with the calculated monolayer coverage of β-naphthol molecules lying in flat orientation on the graphite surface. Adsorption increased at more positive potentials. Over the range of potential investigated, the adsorbability constant increased sixfold. Desorption was only partially reversible.     

长链烷基季铵盐插层氧化石墨的结构变化

基于改进的Hummers法制备氧化石墨(GO),并以长链烷基季铵盐(CnTAB)对其进行插层处理;通过改变CnTAB的链长、浓度,得到系列CnTAB/GO插层复合物。采用XRD和元素分析对产物的最大底面间距及CnTAB插入量进行表征。结果表明,随着Cn TAB链长的增长、CnTAB浓度的增大,CnTAB/GO插层复合物的最大底面间距逐渐增大。CnTAB通过离子键作用和疏水键作用插入到GO层间,在GO片层上的吸附规律符合修正型(Modified)Langmuir模型,即CnTAB以单分子层吸附在GO片层上。根据CnTAB/GO插层复合物最大底面间距及CnTAB插入量的变化规律分析,得出CnTAB在GO层间的排布模式有单层平躺模式、类双层平躺模式、单层倾斜模式和单层直立模式。     

长链烷基季铵盐插层氧化石墨的结构变化

基于改进的Hummers法制备氧化石墨(GO),并以长链烷基季铵盐(C_nTAB)对其进行插层处理;通过改变C_nTAB的链长、浓度,得到系列C_nTAB/GO插层复合物。采用XRD和元素分析对产物的最大底面间距及C_nTAB插入量进行表征。结果表明,随着C_nTAB链长的增长、C_nTAB浓度的增大,C_nTAB/GO插层复合物的最大底面间距逐渐增大。C_nTAB通过离子键作用和疏水键作用插入到GO层间,在GO片层上的吸附规律符合修正型(Modified)Langmuir模型,即C_nTAB以单分子层吸附在GO片层上。根据C_nTAB/GO插层复合物最大底面间距及C_nTAB插入量的变化规律分析,得出C_nTAB在GO层间的排布模式有单层平躺模式、类双层平躺模式、单层倾斜模式和单层直立模式。     

Scanning tunneling microscopy study of metal-free phthalocyanine monolayer structures on graphite

Low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) have shown ordered arrangement of molecules for low coverages up to 1 ML. Evaporation of H2Pc onto HOPG and annealing of the sample to 670 K result in a densely packed structure of the molecules. Arrangements of submonolayer, monolayer, and monolayer with additional adsorbed molecules have been investigated. The high resolution of our investigations has permitted us to image single molecule orientation. The molecular plane is found to be oriented parallel to the substrate surface and a square adsorption unit cell of the molecules is reported. In addition, depending on the bias voltage, different electronic states of the molecules have been probed. The characterized molecular states are in excellent agreement with density functional theory ground state simulations of a single molecule. Additional molecules adsorbed on the monolayer structures have been observed, and it is found that the second layer molecules adsorb flat and on top of the molecules in the first layer. All STM measurements presented here have been performed at a sample temperature of 70 K.     

Monte Carlo simulations on the effect of substrate geometry on adsorption and compression

Canonical Monte Carlo simulations were used to study the adsorption and compression of fluid layers on model substrates with cubic, (111) fcc, and graphite geometries. The effect of the relative size of the fluid and substrate molecules on adsorption was considered for strong molecule-surface interactions. In the case of monolayer formation, it was found that the surface geometry and the size of the adsorbate molecules had a significant effect on the structure of the adsorbed layer. These structures varied from well-ordered, commensurate layers to liquid-like structures. Lateral compression was observed for certain fluid to substrate molecule sizes. For the interactions studied in this work, it was found that maximum lateral compression occurred on the cubic surface when adsorbate molecules had a diameter approximately 15% larger than the substrate diameter. In the case of multilayer formation, it was found that second and higher adsorbed layers could compress into the adsorbed layers below them. For cubic substrates, the interlayer compression was predicted analytically with reasonable accuracy, with maximum interlayer compression found for fluid diameters approximately 90% the size of substrate molecule diameters.     

Self-aggregation of the SDS surfactant at a solid-liquid interface

Molecular dynamics simulations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) molecules on a graphite surface are presented. The simulations were conducted at low and high surface coverage to study aggregation at the water/graphite interface. Results showed that at low surface coverage, the SDS molecules form hemicylindrical aggregates, in agreement with AFM experiments, whereas at high surface coverage, the surfactants form full cylinders. The latter aggregates have not been reported in systems of SDS on hydrophobic substrates, such as graphite. The unexpected results are explained in terms of a water layer adsorbed at the solid surface which was the responsible for the formation of these aggregates. Moreover, the SDS tails in the full cylindrical configuration became straighter than those of the hemicylindrical aggregate. Hydrogen bond formation between water and surfactant head groups was also studied, and it was found that they did not depend on the surfactant concentration.     

Calorimetric Investigation of the Monolayers Formed At Solid-liquid Interface

Heat capacity measurements have been made to investigate the formation of two solid monolayers each of n-pentane, n-heptane and n-dodecane adsorbed on graphite, one at submonolayer coverages and the other coexisting with the liquid. At submonolayer coverages the monolayers are found to melt respectively at 99.8, 151.6, and 217.3 K, well below the bulk melting points. The monolayers coexisting with the liquid melted at 205.6 for heptane and at 287.8 K for dodecane, whereas no evidence was obtained for pentane on the formation of such solid monolayer above the bulk melting point. The order persisting in the liquid near the interface depends upon the length of the molecules. The dodecane monolayers showed another transitions below the melting points both at submonolayer and multilayer coverages.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The crystalline structures of carboxylic acid monolayers adsorbed on graphite

X-ray and neutron diffraction have been used to investigate the formation of solid crystalline monolayers of all of the linear carboxylic acids from C(6) to C(14) at submonolayer coverage and from C(8) to C(14) at multilayer coverages, and to characterize their structures. X-rays and neutrons highlight different aspects of the monolayer structures, and their combination is therefore important in structural determination. For all of the acids with an odd number of carbon atoms, the unit cell is rectangular of plane group pgg containing four molecules. The members of the homologous series with an even number of carbon atoms have an oblique unit cell with two molecules per unit cell and plane group p2. This odd-even variation in crystal structure provides an explanation for the odd-even variation observed in monolayer melting points and mixing behavior. In all cases, the molecules are arranged in strongly hydrogen-bonded dimers with their extended axes parallel to the surface and the plane of the carbon skeleton essentially parallel to the graphite surface. The monolayer crystal structures have unit cell dimensions similar to certain close-packed planes of the bulk crystals, but the molecular arrangements are different. There is a 1-3% compression on increasing the coverage over a monolayer.     

Adsorption of benzene on graphitized thermal carbon black: reduction of the quadrupole moment in the adsorbed phase

The performance of intermolecular potential models on the adsorption of benzene on graphitized thermal carbon black at various temperatures is investigated. Two models contain only dispersive sites, whereas the other two models account explicitly for the dispersive and electrostatic sites. Using numerous data in the literature on benzene adsorption on graphitized thermal carbon black at various temperatures, we have found that the effect of surface mediation on interaction between adsorbed benzene molecules must be accounted for to describe correctly the adsorption isotherm as well as the isosteric heat. Among the two models with partial charges tested, the WSKS model of Wick et al. that has only six dispersive sites and three discrete partial charges is better than the very expensive all-atom model of Jorgensen and Severance. Adsorbed benzene molecules on graphitized thermal carbon black have a complex orientation with respect to distance from the surface and also with respect to loading. At low loadings, they adopt the parallel configuration relative to the graphene surface, whereas at higher loadings (still less than monolayer coverage) some molecules adopt a slant orientation to maximize the fluid-fluid interaction. For loadings in the multilayer region, the orientation of molecules in the first layer is influenced by the presence of molecules in the second layer. The data that are used in this article come from the work of Isirikyan and Kiselev, Pierotti and Smallwood, Pierce and Ewing, Belyakova, Kiselev, and Kovaleva, and Carrott et al.     

Monolayer of aerosol-OT surfactants adsorbed at the air/water interface: an atomistic computer simulation study

An atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation has been carried out to investigate the structural and dynamical properties of a monolayer of the anionic surfactant sodium bis(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) sulfosuccinate (aerosol-OT or AOT) adsorbed at the air/water interface. The simulation is performed at room temperature and at a surface coverage corresponding to that at its critical micelle concentration (78 A(2)/molecule). The estimated thickness of the adsorbed layer is in good agreement with neutron reflection data. The study shows that the surfactants exhibit diffusive motion in the plane of the interface. It is observed that the surfactant monolayer has a strong influence in restricting both the translational and reorientational motions of the water molecules close to the interface. A drastic difference in the dipolar reorientational motion of water molecules in the aqueous layer is observed with a small variation of the distance from the surfactant headgroups. It has been observed that the water molecules in the first hydration layer (region 1) form strong hydrogen bonds with surfactant headgoups. This results in the slower structural relaxation of water-water hydrogen bonds in the first hydration layer compared to that in the pure bulk water. Most interestingly, we notice that the water molecules present in the layer immediately after the first hydration layer form weaker hydrogen bonds and thus relax faster than even pure bulk water.     

Structural evolution of hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene adlayers in heteroepitaxy on n-pentacontane template monolayers

The growth and structure of self-assembled adlayers of hexakis(n-dodecyl)-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC-C12) adsorbed on highly ordered pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) decorated by an n-pentacontane (n-C50H102) monolayer have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Whereas on HOPG the HBC-C12 molecules readily self-assemble into a unique stable 2D structure, on the [n-C50H102 monolayer/graphite] system we observe morphological phase transitions with formation of time dependent alpha, beta, and gamma phases (alpha-->beta-->gamma). The initial alpha-phase is similar to that obtained on bare graphite, while intermediate beta- and final gamma-structures present molecular dimers and rows, respectively. The observed two-dimensional polymorphism is due to weak interaction between HBC-C12 molecules and n-C50H102-modified graphite substrate. Our results constitute an important step toward the control of the growth and structure of highly ordered monolayers of functional conjugated molecules by modifying the graphite surface with an n-alkane monolayer of appropriate chain length.     

Self-Metalation of Anchored Porphyrins on Atomically Defined Cobalt Oxide Surfaces: In situ Studies by Surface Vibrational Spectroscopy

Metalation of anchored porphyrins is essential for their functionality at hybrid interfaces. In this work, we have studied the anchoring and metalation of a functionalized porphyrin derivative, 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (MCTPP), on an atomically-defined CoO(100) film under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. We follow both the anchoring to the oxide surface and the self-metalation by surface Co²⁺ ions via infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). At 150 K, MCTPP multilayer films adsorb molecularly on CoO(100) without anchoring to the surface. Upon heating to 195 K, the first layer of porphyrin molecules anchors via formation of a bridging surface carboxylate. Above 460 K, the MCTPP multilayer desorbs and only the anchored monolayer resides on the surface up to temperatures of 600 K approximately. The orientation of anchored MCTPP depends on the surface coverage. At low coverage, the MCTPP adopts a nearly flat-lying geometry, whereas an upright standing film is formed near the multilayer coverage. Self-metalation of MCTPP depends critically on the surface temperature, the coverage and on the molecular orientation. At 150 K, metalation is largely suppressed, while the degree of metalation increases with increasing temperature and reaches a value of around 60 % in the first monolayer at 450 K. At lower coverage higher metalation fractions (85 % and above) are observed, similar as for increasing temperature.     

Formation of N719 dye multilayers on dye sensitized solar cell photoelectrode surfaces investigated by direct determination of element concentration depth profiles

The structure of the dye layer adsorbed on the titania substrate in a dye-sensitized solar cell is of fundamental importance for the function of the cell, since it strongly influences the injection of photoelectrons from the excited dye molecules into the titania substrate. The adsorption isotherms of the N719 ruthenium-based dye were determined both with a direct method using the depth profiling technique neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (NICISS) and with the standard indirect solution depletion method. It is found that the dye layer adsorbed on the titania surface is laterally inhomogeneous in thickness and there is a growth mechanism already from low coverage levels involving a combination of monolayers and multilayers. It is also found that the amount of N719 adsorbed on the substrate depends on the titania structure. The present results show that dye molecules in dye-sensitized solar cells are not necessarily, as presumed, adsorbed as a self-assembled monolayer on the substrate.     

Effect of chain length on the assembly of mercaptoalkanoic acid multilayer films ligated through divalent Cu ions

The structural stability of alkenthiolate monolayers assembled on gold surfaces is a result of the well-defined organization of the individual molecules within the film. The formation of three-dimensional films assembled by stacking multiple molecular monolayers is substantially more challenging because the correct organization of the molecular components is required not only within the individual monolayers but also between the monolayers of the film. In this paper we examine the structure of multilayer films based on mercaptoalkanoic acid monolayers in which ligation between adjacent monolayers is achieved using the interaction of carboxylic acid and thiol groups with a divalent Cu ion. Using contact angle analysis and atomic force microscopy, we show that the use of Cu(2+) has profound implications on the properties and structure of the multilayer film. In particular, the divalent ions effectively prohibit the complete assembly of the next monolayer. For multilayer SAMs assembled from short alkane chains with six methylene groups, we find that molecules in the incomplete adlayer organize themselves randomly over the underlying monolayer. However, as the number of methylene groups increases (11 and 16 methylene groups), the upper layer tends to fracture into discrete islands which cover around 50% of the surface. The height of these islands is found to be equal to that expected for a complete, well-ordered monolayer assembled from the equivalent mercaptoalkanoic acid molecules. This relationship between chain length and island growth results from the migration of molecules into ordered aggregates driven by the reduction of free energy associated with maximizing intermolecular interactions.     

Wetting and adsorption: II. Adsorption of Triton X-100 and Triton X-305 onto carbon black from water and cyclohexane solutions

The adsorption isotherms of nonionic surfactants Triton X-100 and Triton X-305 from water and cyclohexane on carbon black have been determined at 15 and 30°C. The Langmuir-type and BET-type isotherms are obtained for adsorption of Triton X-100 and Triton X-305 from water and cyclohexane respectively. Both the contact angles of water for graphite/water/air and graphite/water/cyclohexane decrease monotonously with increasing surfactant concentration. From these results, it is proposed that the adsorption of Triton X-100 and Triton X-305 on carbon black or graphite from water is monolayer. For the adsorption from cyclohexane solutions, the ethyleneoxide group of the surfactant molecules may be adsorbed onto the polar spot at the surface of carbon black, and the hydrophobic group of adsorbed molecules may direct toward the liquid phase or attaches to the nonpolar surface region around the polar spot. As the concentration increases, the ethylene oxide groups of the adsorbed molecules can be aggregated with each other via polar interactions to form hemi-reversed micelle.     

正十八烷醇在HOPG上形成自组装膜的吸附特性

研究了正十八烷醇在高定向热解石墨(HOPG)上形成自组装膜的吸附特性, 正十八烷醇在室温下从溶液中吸附至HOPG上形成整齐定向排列的单层自组装膜. 通过扫描隧道显微镜(STM)、接触角测量和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)分析了正十八烷醇单层自组装膜在HOPG上的结构. 实验结果表明, 正十八烷醇自组装膜在基底上成平铺或直立形态, 由于分子在基底上覆盖程度的不同, 会导致它在基底上排列的方式有所不同.     

Resonance and localization effects at a dipolar organic semiconductor interface

The image state manifold of the dipolar organic semiconductor vanadyl naphthalocyanine (VONc) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite is investigated by angle-resolved two-photon photoemission (AR-TPPE) spectroscopy in the 0-1 monolayer regimes. Interfacial charge-transfer from the image potential state of clean graphite populates a near-resonant VONc anion level, identifiable by the graphite image potential state by its distinct momentum dispersion obtained from AR-TPPE. This affinity level is subject to depolarization by the neighboring molecules, resulting in stabilization of this state with coverage. Near a coverage of one monolayer, a hybrid image potential/anion state is also formed, showing progressive localization with coverage. Intensities for all these features develop rather differently with molecular coverage, pointing towards the different types of charge-transfer interactions at play at this interface.