Microscopic Probing of Silica Surfaces

在分析和表面化学项目支持的研究中，特拉华州大学的玛丽沃思教授和她的同事正在应用单分子光谱学方法来研究异质表面上的强吸附现象。 分子与二氧化硅和改性二氧化硅表面上的特定少数位点的强结合导致色谱方法中的差分离。 分子水平的理解，这种强吸附过程和扩散的吸附分子物种的二氧化硅表面上是本研究项目的目标。 从这些研究中获得的信息将有助于设计更好的分离介质，以及解决蛋白质表面相互作用和材料应用中的生物相容性问题。 使用单分子光谱探针，Wirth教授和她在特拉华州大学的同事正在研究分子吸附物与改性二氧化硅表面的强相互作用。 这些光谱探针提供有关吸附位点的结构信息，并有助于解释分离过程中的拖尾现象。 这些研究的信息也可用于设计改进的色谱材料，并有助于了解蛋白质和组织材料与植入物和医疗器械表面的相互作用。

In research supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, Professor Mary Wirth and her coworkers at the University of Delaware are applying methods of single molecule spectroscopy to the investigation of the phenomenon of strong adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces. Strong binding of molecules to specific minority sites on silica and modified silica surfaces leads to poor separation in chromatographic methods. A molecular level understanding of this strong adsorption process and diffusion of adsorbed molecular species on the silica surface is the goal of this research project. Information gained from these studies will be useful in designing better separations media, as well as in addressing questions of protein surface interactions and biocompatibility in materials applications. Using single molecule spectroscopic probes, Professor Wirth and her coworkers at the University of Delaware are examining the strong interaction of molecular adsorbates with modified silica surfaces. These spectroscopic probes provide structural information about the adsorption site, and can help to explain tailing in separations processes. Information from these studies can also be used to design improved chromatographic materials, and can help to develop an understanding of the interactions of protein and tissue materials with implant and medical device surfaces.