Physical Properties of Mercaptopyruvic-acid Layer Formed on Gold Surfaces

We studied the physical properties of the mercaptopyruvic-acid layer formed on gold surfaces, which has the interactions with the titanium dioxide surface for design of gold- titanium dioxide distribution. Surface force measurements were performed, using the atomic force microscope (AFM), between the surfaces as a function of the salt concentration and pH value. The forces were analyzed with the DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) theory, to evaluate the potential and charge density of the surfaces quantitatively for each salt concentration and each pH value. The difference in the properties reflected the effect of the isoelectric point on the surface forces. The forces were interpreted for the evaluation with the law of mass action and the ionizable groups on the surface. The salt concentration dependence of the surface properties, found from the measurement at pH 8.0, was consistent with the prediction from the law. It was found that the mercaptopyruvic-acid layer had higher values for the surface charge densities and potentials than the titanium dioxide surfaces at pH 8, which may be attributed to the ionized-functional-groups of the mercaptopyruvic-acid layer.