Self-assembled, generally monolayers

Surface properties are generally considered to be controlled by the outermost 0.5—1.0 nm at a polymer film (344). A logical solution, therefore, is to use self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as model polymer surfaces. To understand fully the breadth of surface interactions, a portfoHo of chemical functionahties is needed. SAMs are especially suited for the studies of interfacial phenomena owing to the fine control of surface functional group concentration. 

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are the most widely studied nonnatural self-assembly systems. They are generally spontaneously formed from chemisorption and self-organization of organic molecules onto appropriate surfaces. 

As described in the Introduction, Pasteur showed beautifully that racemic molecules resolve spontaneously into chiral forms when they crystallize. We call them conglomerates, in which molecules form condensates comprised of only one enantiomer. The condensation into conglomerates can now be observed not only in crystals but in monolayers, fibers, and supramolecules self-assembled in solution [35]. The researches became possible because of the development of microscopic observation techniques at the nanometer scale. However, in crystals we still do not know what kinds of molecules show spontaneous resolution. Hence, observation of chiral resolution in soft matter may provide important information on the general question. 

Fig. 4.13 General scheme of dendritic macromolecules within molecular layers at interfaces (a) compressed Langmuir bilayer at air-water interface (b) adsorbed and self-assembled monolayers of neutral dendrimers (left) and dendrimers with sticky surface groups (right) (c) multilayer self-assembled films obtained by layer-by-layer deposition of dendrimers low molar mass ions (left) and two adjacent dendrimer generations (right). (From ref. [106])...

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