SELF-ASSEMBLED HEXASACCHARIDES - SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION OF THIOL-TERMINATED SUGARS ADSORBED ON A GOLD SURFACE

A thiol-terminated hexasaccharide, protected with acetyl groups (AHS) was synthesized for the purpose of depositing self-assembled monolayer s (SAMs) from solution onto gold surfaces. S-ray photoelectron spectro scopy (XPS), ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, and imaging tim e-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (iToF-SIMS) were used to d etermine coverage, homogeneity, chemical composition, film thicknesses , and kinetics of film growth. Deprotection of the molecules, i.e. rep lacing acetoxy groups by hydroxyl groups, was performed following adso rption of AHS onto the surface, as well as prior to adsorption from so lution. The chemical composition of the resulting films, the film thic kness, the density of molecules, and the nature of the surface functio nal groups were determined. Adsorption of the deprotected molecules (D HS) from solution was found to lead to a higher density of adsorbed sp ecies.