Comparison of ribonucleic acid homopolymer ionization energies and charge injection barriers

J Phys Chem B. 2006 Aug 17;110(32):15973-81. doi: 10.1021/jp062231j.

Abstract

Thin films of guanosine and uridine ribonucleic acid (RNA) homopolymers (poly rG, poly rU) were grown in high vacuum in several steps on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) using electrospray deposition. Between deposition steps, the sample surface was characterized with X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (XPS, UPS). The resulting spectra series allowed the determination of the orbital alignment at the HOPG interface, as well as the ionization energies of the homopolymer thin films. Comparison with earlier results on cytidine and adenosine RNA homopolymers (poly rC, poly rA) indicates significant ionization energy and charge injection barrier differences between purines and pyrimidines.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Graphite / chemistry
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Poly A / chemistry
  • Poly C / chemistry
  • Poly G / chemistry*
  • Poly U / chemistry*
  • RNA / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Poly A
  • Poly G
  • Poly U
  • Poly C
  • RNA
  • Graphite