Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Ionic Association01:28

Ionic Association

The ionic association is the association of oppositely charged ions in an electrolyte solution to form ion pairs. Bjerrum defined ion pairs as two oppositely charged ions whose electrostatic attraction exceeds the thermal energy of the system, typically expressed as 2kT. Electrostatic attraction depends on ionic charge, separation distance, and the dielectric constant of the medium. Thermal energy, represented by kT, reflects the tendency of ions to move independently due to molecular motion.
Intermolecular Forces03:13

Intermolecular Forces

Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion...
Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules02:35

Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules

Noncovalent attractions are associations within and between molecules that influence the shape and structural stability of complexes. These interactions differ from covalent bonding in that they do not involve sharing of electrons.
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...
Formation of Complex Ions03:45

Formation of Complex Ions

A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...
Intermolecular Forces in Solutions02:28

Intermolecular Forces in Solutions

The formation of a solution is an example of a spontaneous process, a process that occurs under specified conditions without energy from some external source.
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...
Micelles01:30

Micelles

Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Stable isotope insights into the feeding ecology of common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the East Sea of Korea.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Stress-aided thermal activation of crack propagation in multidentate hydrogen bonding adhesives.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

Colloidal stability and aggregation of polyethylene (PE) nanoplastics under UV weathering and PFOA contamination.

Environmental science. Processes & impacts·2026
Same author

Dynamics of Irreversible Particle Adsorption to Fluid Interfaces.

Journal of colloid and interface science·2026
Same author

Algorithm-Compatible Single-Transistor Neuron and Al/ZrO<sub>2</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub>/AlO<sub><i>x</i></sub> Memristor Synapse Kernel for Spiking Neural Networks.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2025
Same author

Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Trophic Structure of Fish Assemblages in the Eastern Region of the Yellow Sea Determined by C- and N-Stable Isotope Ratios.

Biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
09:26

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Supramolecular ion-pair interactions to control monolayer assembly.

Gloria K Olivier1, Donghoon Shin, Jonathan B Gilbert

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 10, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Noncovalent ion-pair interactions control molecular spacing in thiol-based self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. The size of the tetraalkylammonium (TAA+) cation dictates thiol surface density, offering a method for tuning SAM structure.

More Related Videos

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
16:24

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Published on: August 2, 2012

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer
10:11

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer

Published on: April 19, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
09:26

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
16:24

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Published on: August 2, 2012

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer
10:11

Temperature-Controlled Assembly and Characterization of a Droplet Interface Bilayer

Published on: April 19, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Surface Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are crucial for surface functionalization.
  • Controlling molecular spacing in SAMs is essential for tailored surface properties.
  • Noncovalent interactions offer a versatile approach to modifying SAM structure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the use of noncovalent ion-pair interactions to control molecular spacing in thiol SAMs on gold.
  • To explore the influence of tetraalkylammonium (TAA+) cation size on SAM formation and structure.
  • To demonstrate a method for reversibly altering SAM packing density.

Main Methods:

  • Formation of ion-pair self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) using 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHA) and tetraalkylammonium (TAA+) hydroxide salts.
  • Chemisorption of MHA-TAA+ ion-pairs onto gold surfaces.
  • Characterization using contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
  • Reversible removal of TAA+ cations using potassium perchlorate solution.

Main Results:

  • Ion-pair formation between MHA carboxylate groups and TAA+ cations was maintained during gold chemisorption.
  • A 1:1 molar ratio of MHA:TAA+ was observed on the gold surface.
  • Surface density of MHA decreased with increasing TAA+ cation size, indicating steric control.
  • Ion-pair SAMs could be converted to loosely packed MHA monolayers by TAA+ removal.

Conclusions:

  • Noncovalent ion-pair interactions provide effective control over molecular spacing in thiol SAMs.
  • Steric hindrance from the TAA+ cation's alkyl side-chains dictates the lateral arrangement of thiols on the gold surface.
  • This ion-pairing strategy offers a tunable method for modifying SAM structure and surface properties.