Noradrenaline and a Thiol Analogue on Gold Surfaces: An Infrared Reflection-Absorption Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy Study

Self-assembled monolayers and multilayers of a noradrenaline analogue (Nor-Pt) on gold substrates as well as multilayers of noradrenaline have been investigated by means of the molecular orientation, the molecule surface interaction, the molecular composition and the functional group availability for further biointeraction processes, using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. A chemical shift (1.7 eV) of the S 2p peak to lower binding energies is observed, in the XPS spectrum, indicating that the Nor-Pt molecules are chemisorbed onto the gold substrate. The IR results show that Nor-Pt adsorbate has the C=O stretching vibration modes parallel oriented relative to the gold substrate. The average tilt angle of the aromatic ring relative to the gold surface normal is determined to be approximately 51 degrees, based on the NEXAFS measurements on Nor-Pt monolayers. The experimental results and assignments are supported with theoretical studies where we use the building block principle in the spectral analysis and compare with the measurements of noradrenaline and Nor-Pt. The theoretical calculations are shown to be useful; for angle dependence NEXAFS studies as resonances with fully pi* or sigma* character are preferred for correct analysis.