Optimization and analysis of pyrene-maltose functionalized graphene surfaces for Con A detection

Abstract Utilizing the non-covalent π-π stacking of pyrene functionalized molecules onto graphene surfaces has achieved great success in the detection of various bio-objects, while the fundamental investigations on surface modifications stills remain rarely exploited. Here, we report the nano and atomic scale analysis of the π-π stacking functionalized graphene surface regarding to its surface topography, molecular self-assembly as well as process optimizations. The ‘amphipathic’ molecule, pyrene-maltose, is used for the non-covalent functionalization of graphene and systematical analysis is performed to understand the influence of different solvents on the molecular surface arrangement. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and spectroscopy analysis indicate the successful formation of pyrene-maltose layer on graphene surface and it is further confirmed by scanning tunneling microscopy, depicting the self-assembled and densely packed pyrene-maltose layer that give distinguished and ordered diamond-shape lattice as compared to triangular lattice in pristine graphene. We also demonstrated that the interfacial adhesion forces between the AFM probe and the functionalized surfaces allow the detection of the lectin protein Concavalin A through selective absorption. This work provides essential evidence of the π-π interactions between pyrene molecules and graphene, and the AFM based adhesion measurement also has the potential to be employed in a variety of bio-detection applications.