Chiang Ya-Ling, Chang Yu-Jen, Chen Yun-Ru, Hwang Ing-Shouh
Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
Langmuir. 2025 Jan 14;41(1):285-291. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c03501. Epub 2024 Dec 30.
In the present study, we deposited buffer solutions containing hydrophobic (GA) fibrils onto highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and imaged the surfaces through atomic force microscopy (AFM). Within 3 h of applying ambient (nondegassed) buffers, we observed the formation of two-dimensional stripe-like domains on the HOPG surfaces surrounding the (GA) fibrils. However, these stripe domains did not form under degassed buffers. Furthermore, the formation of stripe domains on HOPG occurred considerably faster in the presence of buffer solutions containing (GA) fibrils than in the presence of pure buffer solutions. These stripe structures have recently been identified as nitrogen gas hydrate layers, which are formed through the self-assembly of nitrogen and water molecules on HOPG surfaces. Our findings suggest that gas enrichment occurs in the interfacial water surrounding hydrophobic macromolecules. The results have crucial implications for understanding hydrophobic interactions and the self-assembly of hydrophobic nano-objects in aqueous environments.
在本研究中，我们将含有疏水性（GA）原纤维的缓冲溶液沉积在高度取向的热解石墨（HOPG）上，并通过原子力显微镜（AFM）对表面进行成像。在施加环境（未脱气）缓冲溶液的3小时内，我们观察到在围绕（GA）原纤维的HOPG表面上形成了二维条纹状区域。然而，在脱气缓冲溶液下并未形成这些条纹区域。此外，在含有（GA）原纤维的缓冲溶液存在下，HOPG上条纹区域的形成比在纯缓冲溶液存在下快得多。这些条纹结构最近被鉴定为氮气水合物层，其是通过氮和水分子在HOPG表面上的自组装形成的。我们的研究结果表明，在疏水性大分子周围的界面水中发生了气体富集。这些结果对于理解疏水性相互作用以及水性环境中疏水性纳米物体的自组装具有至关重要的意义。
