Factors resisting protein adsorption on hydrophilic/hydrophobic self-assembled monolayers terminated with hydrophilic hydroxyl groups

The hydroxyl-terminated self-assembled monolayer(OH-SAM),as a surface resistant to protein adsorption,exhibits substantial potential in applications such as ship navigation and medical implants,and the appropriate strategies for designing anti-fouling surfaces are crucial.Here,we employ molecular dynamics simulations and alchemical free energy calculations to systematically analyze the factors influencing resistance to protein adsorption on the SAMs terminated with single or double OH groups at three packing densities(∑=2.0 nm^(-2),4.5 nm^(-2),and 6.5 nm^(-2)),respectively.For the first time,we observed that the compactness and order of interfacial water enhance its physical barrier effect,subsequently enhancing the resistance of SAM to protein adsorption.Notably,the spatial hindrance effect of SAM leads to the embedding of protein into SAM,resulting in a lack of resistance of SAM towards protein.Furthermore,the number of hydroxyl groups per unit area of double OH-terminated SAM at ∑=6.5 nm^(-2) is approximately 2 to 3 times that of single OH-terminated SAM at ∑=6.5 nm^(-2) and 4.5 nm^(-2),consequently yielding a weaker resistance of double OH-terminated SAM towards protein.Meanwhile,due to the structure of SAM itself,i.e.,the formation of a nearly perfect ice-like hydrogen bond structure,the SAM exhibits the weakest resistance towards protein.This study will complement and improve the mechanism of OH-SAM resistance to protein adsorption,especially the traditional barrier effect of interfacial water.

Dielectric Properties of Self-assembled Monolayers of Dithiols

Dielectric properties of dithiol self-assemble monolayers （SAMs） under ac electric field were presented, Using a Hg-SAM/SAM-Ⅱg junction, the ac impedances of dithiol SAMs were measured using a sinusoidal perturbation of 30 mV （peak to-peak） with the frequency ranging from 1 Hz to 1 MHz at zero bias. The contributions from dithiol SAMs and solvent interlayers were separated due to their different behaviors at ac impedance. The peak position in the loss spectra （the plot; of tgδ vs. frequency） moves to low frequcney with the incrcase of chain length of dithiols. Using a correlation of peak position with the chain length, the active energies of 23-39 meV for dithiol SAMs of C6-C10 under an ac electric field were derived,

Structural, mechanical, and electronic properties of 25 kinds of Ⅲ–Ⅴbinary monolayers: A computational study with first-principles calculation

Using first-principle calculations, we investigate the mechanical, structural, and electronic properties and formation energy of 25 kinds of Ⅲ–V binary monolayers in detail. A relative radius of the binary compound according to the atomic number in the periodic table is defined, and based on the definition, the 25 kinds of Ⅲ–V binary compounds are exactly located at a symmetric position in a symmetric matrix. The mechanical properties and band gaps are found to be very dependent on relative radius, while the effective mass of holes and electrons are found to be less dependent. A linear function between Young’s modulus and formation energy is fitted with a linear relation in this paper. The change regularity of physical properties of B–V(V = P, As, Sb, Bi) and Ⅲ–N(Ⅲ = Al, Ga, In, Tl) are found to be very different from those of other Ⅲ–V binary compounds.

Attachment of tyrosinase on mixed self-assembled monolayers for the construction of electrochemical biosensor

A mixed self-assembled monolayers （SAMs） of thioctic acid （T-COOH） and thioctic acid amide （T-NH2） were used to immobilize tyrosinase for fabricating biosensor. The results showed that the mixed SAMs prepared from solution at the ratio of 1：4 provided an excellent microenvironment for enzymatic reaction between tyrosinase and substrate. The biosensor exhibited a fast response and high sensitivity for sensing substrate.

A theoretical investigation on anomalous switching of single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid(ssDNA) monolayers by water vapor

In this paper, we use a molecular theory to study the anomalous switching of ssDNA monolayers. Here, both ssDNA- water and water-water hydrogen bonds and their explicit coupling to the ssDNA conformations are considered. We find that hydrogen bonding becomes a key element in inducing the anomalous switching of ssDNA monolayers. This finding accords well with the experimental observations. Based on our theoretical model, we predict that the anomalous switching induced by water vapor will be applicable to a wide range of hydrogen bonds polymers, and ssDNA-water hydrogen bonds and water-water hydrogen bonds hybridization will lead to the hydrogen-bond network formation of 3D ssDNA monolayers.

Preparation and Characterization of SrTiO_3 Thin Film on Functional Organic Self-Assembled Monolayers

SrTiO3 thin film was successfully prepared on the functionalized organic self-assembled monolayers（SAMs） by the Liquid Phase Deposition（LPD） method.The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD）,atomic force microscope（AFM）,scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and metallographic microscope.Measurement of contact angle showed that the hydrophobe substrate was changed into hydrophile by UV irradiation.AFM photographs of octadecyl-trichloro-silane self-assembled monolayer（OTS-SAM） surface approved that UV irradiation did change the morphology of OTS monolayer and provided evidence for the conversion of hydrophilic characteristic.Photographs of Metallographic Microscope showed that OTS-SAM had an active effect on the deposition of SrTiO3 thin film.XRD and SEM indicated that the thin film was of pure cubic phase SrTiO3 and composed of nanosized grains with a size in the range of 100-500 nm.The formation mechanism of the SrTiO3 film was proposed.

Electronic,Elastic and Piezoelectric Properties of Two-Dimensional Group-Ⅳ Buckled Monolayers

Electronic, elastic and piezoelectric properties of two-dimensional （2D） group-IV buckled monolayers （GeSi, SnSi and SnGe） are studied by first principle calculations. According to our calculations, SnSi and SnGe are good 2D piezoelectric materials with large piezoelectric coefficients. The values of d11d11 of SnSi and SnGe are 5.04pm/V and 5.42pm/V, respectively, which are much larger than 2D MoS2 （3.6pm/V） and are comparable with some frequently used bulk materials （e.g., wurtzite AlN 5.1pm/V）. Charge transfer is calculated by the L wdin analysis and we find that the piezoelectric coefficients （d11d11 and d31） are highly dependent on the polarizabilities of the anions and cations in group-IV monolayers.

Preparation of Aryldiazonium Salt Monolayers on Si（100） Surface by Chemomechanical Method

Functionalizing and patterning of the silicon surface can be realized simultaneously by the chemomechanical method. The oxide-coated crystalline silicon （100） surface is scratched with a diamond tool in the presence of aryldiazonium salt （C6H5N2BF4）. Scratching activates the silicon surface by removing the passivation oxide layer to expose fresh Si atoms. The sur- face morphologies before and after chemomechanical reaction are characterized with atomic force microscopy. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy confirms the presence of C6H5 and provides evidence for the formation of self-assembled monolayer （SAM） on silicon surface via Si-C covalent bonds by scratching the silicon in the presence of C6H5N2BF4. C6H5 groups further bond with surface Si atoms via Si-C covalent bonds as confirmed from infrared spectroscopy results. We propose that chemomechanical reaction, which occurred during scratching the silicon surface, produce C6H5 groups from aryldiazonium salt. The relevant adhesion of SAM is measured. It is found that SAM can reduce the adhesion of silicon. The monolayer can be used as anti-adhesion monolayer for micro/nanoelectromechanical systems components under different environments and operating conditions.

Stability Behaviour of Monolayer Tetraether Lipids on the Amino-Silanised Silicon Wafer: Comparative Study between Langmuir-Blodgett Monolayers with Self-Assembled Monolayers

This study investigated the stability behaviour of molecular monolayer symmetric chemically modified tetraether lipids caldarchaeol-PO4 on the amino-silanised silicon wafer using Langmuir-Blodgett films, Self Assembling Monolayers (SAMs), ellipsometry, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The monolayers of caldarchaeol-PO4 were stable on the solid surface amino-silanised silicon wafer. The organizations of molecular monolayers caldarchaeol-PO4 by Langmuir-Blodgett method and SAMs have been analyzed. The surface of pressure in Langmuir-Blodgett processing is carried out monolayers caldarchaeol-PO4 more flat island inhomogeneous. Another method of monolayers caldarchaeol-PO4 by SAMs is showed a large flat domain. Monolayers caldarchaeol-PO4 by Langmuir-Blodgett method seems to be stable and chemically resistant after washing with organic solvent and an additional treatment ultrasonification with various thickness lipids arround 2 nm to 6 nm. Conversely, monolayer caldarchaeol-PO4 by SAMs appears fewer than monolayers caldarchaeol-PO4 by Langmuir-Blodgett method, the thickness of various from 1 nm to 3 nm.

Studies on Porphyrin and Phthalocyanine Monolayers by Means of Compression－Recompression Isotherms and BAM

Monolayers of porphyrin and phthalocyanine at the air-water interface were studied bymeans of film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). ResultS showed that the final point ofcompression isotherm and that of recompression isotherm were coincident or not coincidentdepending on the target pressures. Results were discussed in terms of the morphology of monolayersobserved by BAM.

A MEMS Based Amperometric Immunosensor with Self-assembled Monolayers Immobilization Technique

Based on MEMS technology,immunosensor with an'Au,Pt,Pt'three-microelectrode system enclosed in a SU-8 micro pool was fabricated.Employing SAMs technique,the Au electrode was modified by cysteamine(Cys)to assemble gold nanopanicles(nanogold)layer,subsequently,a layer of protein G(PG)was immobilized on nanogold layer to further capture antibody orientedly.Compared with the immunosensors using bulky gold electrode and direct PG binding to electrode immobilization technique for antibody,it has attractive advantages,such as miniaturization,good compatibility,broad linear range for human immunoglobulin(HIgG)and easy to be designed into array.

The Effects of Contact Interface on the Friction Characteristics of Self-assembly Monolayers

The effects of different contact interfaces on the friction characteristics of OTS self-assembled monolayers were investigated by a universal micro-tribometer in different sliding velocities. The results indicate that there exist lower friction coefficients between OTS SAMs and Ti, Ni and Cu films deposited on GCr15 steel balls than those between OTS SAMs and GCr15 steel ball. The friction coefficient between OTS SAMs and Ti film is the largest, and the friction coefficient between OTS SAMs and Cu film is the least in these three films, which depends on the intrinsic characteristics of the materials. The friction coefficients between OTS SAMs and GCr15 steel ball and three nanometer films increase with the sliding velocity increasing, which can be explained by the relaxation characteristics of OTS molecules.

Enhancing sintering resistance of atomically dispersed catalysts in reducing environments with organic monolayers

Atomically dispersed precious metal catalysts maximize atom efficiency and exhibit unique reactivity.However,they are susceptible to sintering.Catalytic reactions occurring in reducing environments tend to result in atomically dispersed metals sintering at lower temperatures than in oxidative or inert atmospheres due to the formation of mobile metal-H or metal-CO complexes.Here,we develop a new approach to mitigate sintering of oxide supported atomically dispersed metals in a reducing atmosphere using organophosphonate self-assembled monolayers(SAMs).We demonstrate this for the case of atomically dispersed Rh on Al_(2)O_(3) and TiO_(2) using a combination of CO probe molecule FTIR,temperature programmed desorption,and alkene hydrogenation rate measurements.Evidence suggests that SAM functionalization of the oxide provides physical diffusion barriers for the metal and weakens the interactions between the reducing gas and metal,thereby discouraging the adsorbate-promoted diffusion of metal atoms on oxide supports.Our results show that support functionalization by organic species can provide improved resistance to sintering of atomically dispersed metals with maintained catalytic reactivity.

Determination of Surface pKa of Pure Mercaptoacetic Acid and 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole Mixed Monolayers by Impedance Titration

Interfacial proton transfer reactions of pure mercaptoacetic acid (MA) and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (Mbz) mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been studied using a.c. impedance titration method. The charge-transfer resistance (Rct,) is measured with the monolayer composition and the ionic strength of pH solution. The surface pKa can be obtained by the plots of Rct and pH, the reasons of shifts of surface pKa are also explained.

Studies of Self-assembled Monolayers Formed by Imidazofine on Iron Surface by SEM and SECM

The self-assembled monolayers （SAMs） of imidazoline （IM） on the iron surface were characterized by scanning electron microscope （SEM） and scanning electrochemical microscopy （SECM）. The results showed that SAMs were an effective inhibition film for iron.

Surface Dissociation Properties of Short Chain Carboxyl Mercaptan Self-Assembled Monolayers by Impedance Titration

Impedance titration was used to determine the surface dissociation characteristics of short-chain carboxyl mercaptan self-assembled monolayers （SAMs）. Based on the change of the cyclic voltammetric peak current and the charge-transfer resistance, which was related to pH value of the solution, the surface pKa of mercaptoacetic acid（MA）, 3-mercaptopropionic acid（MPA） and ω-mercaptohexanic acid（MHA） self-assembled membranes, with ionic strength being 0.1 mol/L, were determined to be 5.20, 4.80, 7.40, respectively. In addition, factors such as time needed for assembling, structure of monolayers and ionic strength, which effected the surface pKa, were studied as well. Such surface pKa shifts were sufficiently explained by interactions between interfacial molecules and hydrophobicity.

The Intermolecular Interaction in Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold Electrode

The intermolecular interaction in an azobenzene self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold electrode was investigated by controlling the assembling time and using mixed self-assembled techniques, and the variation of apparent electron transfer rate constant (k(s)) of azobenzene SAMs with different molecular packing density is reported.

CORROSION INHIBITION OF STEARIC ACID LANGMUIR-BLODGETT MONOLAYERS ON IRON

The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique was used for the first time to study inhibition mechanism. Stearic acid Langmuir-Blodgett (SALB) monolayers showed a good inhibition effect on iron corrosion in neutral environment and the inhibition is mainly based on the blocking effect.

Unveiling the Underlying Mechanism of Transition Metal Atoms Anchored Square Tetracyanoquinodimethane Monolayers as Electrocatalysts for N_(2) Fixation

We for the first time systematically studied the structures and electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction properties of two-dimensional single transition-metal anchored square tetracyanoquinodimethane monolayers(labeled as:TM-sTCNQ,TM=3d,4d,5d series transition metals)by employing density functional theory method.Through highthroughput screenings and full reaction path researches,two promising electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction catalysts Nb-sTCNQ and MosTCNQ have been obtained.The nitrogen reduction reaction onset potential on Nb-sTCNQ is as low as−0.48 V.Furthermore,the Nb-sTCNQ catalyst can quickly desorb NH3 produced with a free energy of 0.65 eV,giving Nb-sTCNQ excellent catalytic cycle performance.The high catalytic activity of the two materials might be attributed to the effective charge transfer between the active center and adsorbed N_(2),which enables the active center to adsorb and activate inert N_(2) molecules well,and the reduction processes require small energy input(i.e.,the maximum free energy changes are small).This work provides insights for finding highly efficient,stable,and low-cost nitrogen reduction reaction electrocatalysts.We hope our results can promote further experimental and theoretical research of this field.

Janus MSiGeN_(4)(M=Zr and Hf)monolayers derived from centrosymmetricβ-MA_(2)Z_(4):A first-principles study

A two-dimensional(2D)MA_(2)Z_(4)family with and phases has been attracting tremendous interest,the MoSi_(2)N_(4)and WSi_(2)N_(4)of which have been successfully fabricated(Science 369,670(2020)).Janus monolayers have been achieved in many 2D families,so it is interesting to construct a Janus monolayer from the MA_(2)Z_(4)family.In this work,Janus MSiGeN4(M=Zr and Hf)monolayers are predicted from-MA_(2)Z_(4),which exhibit dynamic,mechanical and thermal stabilities.It is found that they are indirect band-gap semiconductors by using generalized gradient approximation(GGA)plus spin-orbit coupling(SOC).With biaxial strain a/a0 from 0.90 to 1.10,the energy band gap shows a nonmonotonic behavior due to a change of conduction band minimum(CBM).A semiconductor to metal transition can be induced by both compressive and tensile strains,and the phase trans-formation point is about 0.96 for compressive strain and 1.10 for tensile strain.The tensile strain can change the positions of CBM and valence band maximum(VBM),and can also induce the weak Rashba-type spin splitting near CBM.For MSiGeN4(M=Zr and Hf)monolayers,both an in-plane and out-of-plane piezoelectric response can be produced,when a uniaxial strain in the basal plane is applied,which reveals the potential as piezoelectric 2D materials.The high absorption coefficients in the visible light region suggest that MSiGeN4(M=Zr and Hf)monolayers have potential photocatalytic applications.Our works provide an idea to achieve a Janus structure from the MA_(2)Z_(4)family,and can hopefully inspire further research exploring Janus MA_(2)Z_(4)monolayers.