The adhesive properties of pyridine-terminated self-assembled monolayers

The atomic force microscopy (AFM) adhesion force behaviour and contact angle titration behaviour of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) presenting surface pyridine and substituted pyridine moieties has been investigated as a function of pH and electrolyte concentration. The pKas of the pyridine moieties were modified through the incorporation of fluorine, chlorine and bromine substituents in the pyridyl ring. Contact angle titration and AFM adhesion force measurements were performed using aqueous phosphate buffered saline solutions over the pH range 3–9, and at concentrations of 150 mM and 0.1 mM. AFM adhesion force measurements were performed using a clean Si3N4 pyramidal-tipped AFM cantilever

The pH-dependent adhesion of nanoparticles to self-assembled monolayers on gold

The effect of pH on the adhesion of silica and polystyrene latex nanoparticles, presenting hydroxyl and carboxylic acid surface chemistries respectively, to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) has been investigated. The SAMs studied were 1-dodecanethiol, 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and an original pyridine-terminated SAM. Adhesion of nanoparticles to the SAMs was found to decrease with increasing pH due to increased repulsive forces between surfaces, as a result of the deprotonation of surface moieties on the nanoparticles. A range of surface morphologies for the adsorbed nanoparticles was observed for the systems studied