Studies of aggregated molecules near electrode surfaces

通过在电化学环境中使用荧光显微镜，在了解极负电位下电极表面附近分子的性质方面取得了最新进展。这些被解吸的分子存在于一个独特的环境中，这已经通过阻抗和光谱学的使用得到了证明。该提案将研究通过使用电场和光学镊子来操纵这些分子的方法。在这两种情况下，外部扰动将被用来对这些分子施加一个力，以便以横向方式置换它们。测量这样做所需的力将增强对在极值电位下保持分子靠近而不是在电极表面的力的性质的理解。该系统还将用于通过使用微电极将少量分子输送到特定位置。这两种方法将使我们能够构建方法，以利用生物传感器或仿生设备中的这种独特接口，这些设备可能是芯片实验室分析系统的一部分。

Recent advances in the understanding of the nature of molecules near an electrode surface at very negative potentials has been possible through the use of fluorescence microscopy performed in an electrochemical environment.  These desorbed molecules exist in a unique environment which has been shown through the use of impedance and spectroscopy.  This proposal will examine methods for manipulating these molecules through the use of electric fields and optical tweezers.  In both cases, the external perturbation will be used to exert a force on these molecules in order to displace then in a lateral fashion.  Measurement of the forces required to do this will enhance the understanding of the nature of the forces holding the molecules near but not on the electrode surface at the extreme values of potential.  This system will also be used for the delivery of a small amount of molecules to a particular location through the use of microelectrodes.  Together these two approaches will allow us to construct methodologies for utilizing this unique interface in biosensor or bio-mimetic devices that may be part of a lab-on-a-chip analysis system.