Spectroscopic Characterization of Surfactant and Biopolymer Adsorption in Liquid/Liquid Interfaces and Chemically Modified Metal Surfaces

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This research project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, investigates the design and spectroscopic characterization of monolayers formed by the adsorption of surfactants, polypeptides and oligonucleotides at liquid/liquid interfaces and at chemically modified metal surfaces. During the tenure of this three-year continuing grant, Professor Corn and his students at the University of Wisconsin will utilize molecular second harmonic generation (SHG) to probe spectroscopically the structure of the liquid/liquid interface. This information is useful for developing an understanding of ion transport across biological membranes, for the design of systems for DNA detection and identification, and for the control of biomimetic systems formed from self-assembled monolayers. The tools and information developed in the course of this research have wide application in a number of areas of fundamental analytical technology. Spectroscopic probes of the orientation of molecules adsorbed at the liquid/liquid interface and in organic overlayers on metallic surfaces are being developed in this research program. Non- linear laser spectroscopic probes, and reflection absorption infrared and plasmon resonance spectroscopies are used to investigate the orientation and structure of molecules at these interfaces. Information obtained from these studies will be useful in the development of new analytical methodologies, as well as forming a fundamental base for the exploitation of biological models of information storage and computing.