Self-assembled monolayers of alpha-cyclodextrin derivatives on gold and their host-guest behavior

Various sulfur-modified alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) derivatives formed ordered monolayers on gold surfaces as confirmed by water contact angle goniometry, electrochemistry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy measurements. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the adsorbates showed high polarity, uniform monolayer arrangement, and low charge transfer resistance. Electrochemical capacitance measurements were used to determine the binding affinity of aliphatic carboxylic acid salts with four, six, and eight carbon atoms. The nonmethylated cyclodextrin host-guest pairs showed 1-2 orders of magnitude higher binding constants on surfaces than in solution.