Monolayer mechanically stable

Molecular mechanics (MM) energy minimiza tion indicates that the two modes lead to monolayers exhibiting different types of packing arrangements, but comparable in their ground state energies. (The monolayer resulting from the mode is more stable by 2.5 kJ/mol (0.6 kcal/mol))... 

Recently, Genzer and coworkers [85] presented an interesting new approach for the preparation of stable silane-based SAM systems. As a substrate, cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was oxidized by UV/ozone treatment to yield a thin sihcon dioxide surface. The surface was then treated with fluorinated alkyltrichlo-rosilanes from the gas phase while being mechanically stretched by a certain length Ax. After modification, the elastomer was allowed to relax resulting in a mecdianically assembled monolayer (MAM) at the surface (Fig. 9.8). 

SA monolayers spontaneously form, by definition, upon the immersion of a substrate into an organic solution of a suitable surfactant. The method is attractive since it avoids the complex mechanical manipulation required for making LB films and it is amenable, at least in principle, to scale-up. Conditions for the reproducible formation of highly ordered, well-packed, and stable monolayers and multilayers have only been established during the last decade. 

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