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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R16235/01
Title: The Interaction of Water With Small Biomolecules On Well-Defined Surfaces
Principal Investigator: Richardson, Professor N
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of St Andrews
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 September 2001 Ends: 31 August 2004 Value (£): 302,715
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Chemical Biology Surfaces & Interfaces
Tissue Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Chemicals
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Surface science techniques such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), Fourier transform reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (FT -RAIRS), near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) will be exploited in investigations of water molecules with small, but biologically relevant, multifunctional molecules adsorbed on surfaces. The aim is to gain a detailed understanding of the changes in intermolecular bonding, long range order and molecular orientation which can be initiated by the co-adsorption of small amounts of water. UHV conditions and low temperatures will contribute to precise control of the surface coverage of water and the chosen molecules on single crystal substrates. This will lead to a detailed, molecular description of the perturbation resulting from the presence of water on both intramolecular and intermolecular interactions in the neighbourhood of a solid surface. A comparison of different substrates will help elucidate their role in these complex, three way (adsorbate/substrate/water) interactions. Defining the role played by H-bonding, both within the adsorbate monolayer and, of course, between the adsorbed species and the water molecules will be crucial.A molecular level description of water/adsorbate interactions will contribute to a better nanoscopic understanding of hydrophobic and hydrophilic phenomena in the vicinity of solid surfaces and impact on many areas of physical, biological and medicinal sciences
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Organisation Website: http://www.st-and.ac.uk