title: Drastic Au(111) surface reconstruction upon insulin growth factor tripeptide adsorption.
abstract: Adsorption of biomolecules at metal surfaces often creates two-dimensional ordering of the adlayers. However, metal substrate reconstruction is less commonly observed, unless upon annealing of the molecule-surface system. Here, we report on the drastic room-temperature reconstruction of the Au(111) surface, driven by the adsorption of insulin growth factor tripeptide molecules. Scanning tunneling microscopy images show that the surface reconstruction, which takes place without annealing the system, is dynamic and evolves over time. It is initiated at kinks and steps edges, but the reconstruction also takes place within defect-free terraces. Theoretical calculations are performed to explain the reconstruction at the molecular level.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Réactivité de Surface, UMR CNRS 7197, Université Pierre et Marie Curie -UPMC Paris 6 case 178, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France. vincent.humblot@upmc.fr
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Humblot
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallée
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naitabdi
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tielens
authors.forename: Claire-Marie
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pradier
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides; D013002:Somatomedins; D006046:Gold