Refine
Has Fulltext
- no (15)
Document Type
- Article (15)
Is part of the Bibliography
- yes (15)
Institute
Langmuir-Blodgett films of bolaamphiphiles with reactive head groups can be used for the surface modification of composite membranes for gas separation processes. The scope of our investigations was to get a detailed insight in the monolayer behaviour and LB film structure of previously synthesized bisaroyl azide bolaamphiphiles. The layers have been analyses by means of surface potential measurements and Brewster angle microscopy. Furthermore parameters for a successful LB Film deposition were found. As expected for a molecule with two hydrophilic ends the transfer ratio on upstroke was close to one and on downstroke no transfer occurred. The multilayer structure was analysed by scanning force microscopy and X-ray reflectivity measurements. The SFM images revealed a periodic in plane structure on molecular level. Based on a combination of the X-ray data with results of other methods two possible models of the multilayer structure are presented
The complexation of highly ordered fatty acid monolayers with polyelectrolytes is expected to yield well- ordered Langmuir films suitable for the formation of Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers with improved long-term stability. Studies of the surface pressure-area isotherms and of the surface potential kinetics yield detailed information regarding the influence of these polymeric counterions on the monolayer properties. The injection of bivalent metal salts into the subphase after the complexation was used to improve the order and stability of the mono- and multilayers. The corresponding Langmuir-Blodgett films were investigated by means of X-ray reflectivity measurements and scanning force microscopy. The polyion complex multilayers show a strongly increased mechanical stability compared with films of fatty acid salts formed with bivalent metal ions. These structures are expected to be suitable as ultrathin separation layer for gas separation or ultrafiltration membranes.
Polypropylene membranes with deposited ultrathin "siin" layers are attractive for separation and cleaning of gaseous mixtures. In the present study, the surface morphology and wetting hysteresis of composite membranes consisting of a microporous polypropylene support and Langmuir-Blodgett ("skin") films, are investigated. The effect of the interlayer molecular interactions and the substrate features on the integrity and homogeneity of the "skin" layers is examined. Langmuir-Blodgett films of arachidic acid and cadmium and calcium arachidate are characterized both on smooth silicon and on porous polypropylene supports. Contact angle measurements and scanning force microscopy (SFM) are applied for investigations of the membrane surface modification upon transfer of a different number of monolayers. It was found that the contact angle hysteresis of the bare membrane decreases after the LB-deposition of close-packed monolayers. Smoothing of the membrane surface is also evidenced by the SFM images, on different length scales, confirming a good coverage of the membrane pores.
We have formed Y layers of perfluorododecanoic acid CF3(CF2)10COOH by thermal evaporation in vacuo and of perfluorotetradecanoic acid CF3(CF2)12COOH by thermal evaporation and by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. We have obtained the bilayer spacing of both these materials by X-ray diffraction and have also studied the in-plane structure of these materials by means of grazing incidence diffraction (GID). Computer modelling was used to interpret the results obtained. For the perfluorododecanoic acid, we find two stable untwisted phases at 25°C and a combination of these two predicts both the Bragg peaks arising from the layer structure and the GID results. Our experimental results show that the perfluorotetradecanoic acid exists in the generally accepted helical structure. Computer modelling leads to the conclusion that closely packed perfluorinated chains with 12 or less carbon atoms should exist in an untwisted state while molecules having more than 12 carbon atoms show the onset of the helical conformation.
The molecular in-plane structure of uranyl arachidate Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films formed at different subphase pH values was analysed by means of X-ray grazing-incidence diffraction. For multilayers formed at low subphase pH a reorganisation of the arachidic acid film structure is confirmed. At appropriate subphase pH values, reorganisation of the film structure, e.g. via the formation of three-dimensional crystallites, is prevented by the presence of the uranyl ions and by the subsequent introduction of conformational disorder (gauche defects) in the alkyl chains. The observation of a macroscopic flow-induced in-plane texture in these uranyl arachidate LB films has profound implications for the design of ordered, supramolecular structures by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique.