Monolayer-forming amphiphile Subject

Surface Micelles. The possibility of forming clusters of molecules or micelles in monolayer films was first proposed by Langmuir [59]. The matter of surface micelles and the issue of equilibration has been the subject of considerable discussion [191,201,205-209]. Nevertheless, many ir-a isotherms exhibit nonhorizontal lines unexplained by equations of state or phase models. To address this, Israelachvili [210] developed a model for ir-u curves where the amphiphiles form surface micelles of N chains. The isotherm... 

The most fascinating characteristic some amphiphile molecules exhibit is that, when mixed with water, they form self-assembly structures. This was already discussed in Chapter 2 on micelle formation. Since most of the biological lipids also exhibit self-assembly structure formation, this subject has been given much attention in the literature (Birdi, 1999). Lipid monolayer studies thus provide a very useful method to obtain information about SAM formation, both concerning technical systems and cell bilayer structures. 

In the second approach, metal-ion/complex was first attached to one of the polymer blocks. A thin film of the resulting polymer metal complex was then obtained by spin coating/solution casting. Alternatively, the polymer metal complex may also be dissolved in a suitable solvent system that selectively dissolves one of the blocks. Micelles or nanosized aggregates formed in this case. The micellization of amphiphilic block copolymers and their use in the formation of metal nanoparticles has been discussed previously.44 A monolayer of micelles was introduced on a substrate surface by dipping or electrostatic attraction. The substrate was then subjected to further chemical or physical treatments as mentioned earlier. The third approach involves the formation of micelles from the metal-free block copolymer in a suitable solvent system. The micelle solution was then added with metal ion, which was selectively coordinated to one of the blocks. These micelle-metal complexes can also be processed by a procedures similar to the second approach. 

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