Langmuir monolayers from functionalized amphiphiles with epoxy terminal groups

Kirsten L. Genson, Jason Holzmueller, David Vaknin, Ovette F. Villavicencio, Dominic V. McGrath, Vladimir V. Tsukruk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

We studied Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers from amphiphiles with traditional (carboxylic) and bulky functionalized (epoxy) terminal groups at the air-water and air-solid interfaces. We demonstrated that the molecules with a central azobenzene fragment and carboxylic (AA-1 molecule) and bulky epoxy (AE-1 molecule) polar groups formed orthorhombic unit cells with larger than expected area per alkyl tail. The higher order of symmetry indicated by the appearance of higher Qxy peaks revealed that the alkyl tails formed a herringbone structure with limited long range ordering. In the condensed monolayer, the azobenzene group of the AA-1 molecules was oriented vertically in contrast to the AE-1 molecule that was significantly tilted. In addition, the presence of the bulky epoxy focal groups caused a less dense lateral packing of the azobenzene groups. We suggest that the bulky focal group causes intramonolayer packing which can enhance the ability of the chemically grafted azobenzene groups for photoisomerization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)237-248
Number of pages12
JournalThin Solid Films
Volume493
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 22 2005

Keywords

  • Atomic force microscopy
  • LB films
  • Surface structures
  • X-ray scattering

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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