Structure and kinetics of fatty acid Langmuir monolayers on zinc salt solutions.

The adsorption of zinc cations under behenic acid Langmuir monolayers was investigated by means of isotherm measurements, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and Brewster angle microscopy. The structure of the films was characterized as a function of Zn(2+) concentration, for three different counterions (chloride, iodide, bromide) and at two subphase pHs (5.5 and 7.

Limited propagation of lattice distortion in trilayer Langmuir-Blodgett films: correlation with mesoscopic structure.

The structure of trilayer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films on oxidized silicon wafers has been investigated using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction at various incidence angles and atomic force microscopy (AFM). These films are formed by two behenic acid (BA) layers and a third monolayer of amphiphilic molecules having different architectures. These molecules have the same polar head and differ from each other by the chain, either saturated or unsaturated hydrogenated or semi-fluorinated.

Contribution toward comprehension of contact angle values on single polydimethylsiloxane and poly(ethylene oxide) polymer networks.

The large application ranges of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) based materials justify the importance of controlling polymer surface properties including morphology and wettability behavior. However, it appears that the reported contact angle values of PDMS surfaces show significant scattering which cannot always be interpreted in terms of sole chemical data. In addition, few values are reported concerning pure PEO surfaces, since the polymer generally swells in the presence of water.

Evolution toward the X phase of fatty acid Langmuir monolayers on a divalent cation solution.

The structure of docosanoic acid monolayers spread over chloride salt solutions of copper was investigated by means of isotherm measurements, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, and Brewster angle microscopy, as a function of the ion concentration and at two subphase pHs (5.5 and 7.5).

Molecular recognition controls the organization of mixed self-organized bis-urea-based mineralization templates for CaCO(3).

To investigate the role and importance of nondirectional electrostatic interactions in mineralization, we explored the use of Langmuir monolayers in which the charge density can be tuned using supramolecular interactions. It is demonstrated that, in mixed Langmuir monolayers of bis-ureido surfactants containing oligo(ethylene oxide) and ammonium head groups associated with matching or nonmatching spacers between the two urea groups, the organization is controlled by molecular recognition. These different organizations of the molecules lead to different nucleation behavior in the mineralization of calcium carbonate.

Spontaneous polymerization at the air-water interface: a Brewster angle microscopy study.

When a dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODA) monolayer is spread onto a styrene sulfonate (SSt) aqueous solution, this monomer undergoes a spontaneous polymerization process [Fichet, O; Teyssié, D. Macromolecules 2002, 35, 5352]. However, the polymer synthesized in this monolayer cannot be investigated by classical characterization techniques.

Sliding behavior of liquid droplets on tilted Langmuir-Blodgett surfaces.

The sliding behavior of liquid droplets on inclined Langmuir-Blodgett surfaces was investigated. The critical sliding angle defined as the tilt angle of the surface at which the drop slides down as well as the advancing and receding contact angles was measured for five different liquids on five surfaces. In addition, the contact line geometry was analyzed at critical sliding angle.