Abstract
Histidine adsorption from neutral aqueous solution on cerium oxide substrates was studied by photoemission with use of synchrotron radiation, soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Polycrystalline oxide films and oxide nanoparticles were used as ceria substrates.
Independent of the morphology of the support, histidine binds to the oxide through the carboxylic group while the imidazole ring does not participate in the interface formation. Compared to deposition of molecules by evaporation in vacuum, the presence of the solution during adsorption does not alter the histidine bonding to cerium oxide.
The present results clearly demonstrate the applicability of the model (in-situ) studies of the histidine/CeO2 interface to the biocompatible techniques of cerium oxide functionalization.