ABSTRACT
This work describes a protocol for producing 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-treated bi-layered gold/silver films on glass substrates without an intermediate chromium or titanium adhesive layer but with a high adherence of the metal layer to the glass as well as suitable optical properties for use as an Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) chip. Different media (aqueous, organic and vapour phases) were applied. The final products were analysed using SPR, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and contact angle analysis methods. Finally, the amine accessibility of the final prepared silanised chip was measured. There were considerable differences in the morphology and accessibility of the APTES films prepared by the four methods. Films prepared by Dilute Vapor Phase Deposition (DVPD) were uniform and had many available reactive amines. Films prepared by the Organic Phase Deposition (OPD) method appeared to be the thickest and bore the most accessible amine groups. Films prepared by Aqueous Phase Deposition (APD) were thin, very stable and smooth but did not possess a high density of available reactive amines. Films prepared by the concentrate vapour-phase deposition method appeared to be relatively thick and had a medium number of accessible amine groups.
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