Adsorption of mannitol and sorbitol on gold(111)

The adsorption of mannitol and sorbitol on Au(111) has been followed by differential capacity measurements. Results obtained for the adsorption of these polyalcohols in dilute solutions of HClO 4 and NaClO 4 showed that the adsorption process could be described by a Frumkin isotherm, the parameters of which were determined and discussed. The values of the standard Gibbs energy of adsorption suggest physical adsorption of mannitol and sorbitol, without the existence of specific interactions of the adsorbed molecules with gold. The values of the interaction parameters are negative in both electrolytes, indicating a net attractive interaction in the adsorbed layer. There are noticeable differences between the values of the standard Gibbs energy of adsorption and of the interaction parameter for the two polyols, which have been interpreted in terms of the conformational properties of the two isomers in the adsorbed layer.