Langmuir films of unusual components

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2009 Jan;9(1):3-18. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2009.j076.

Abstract

This short review aims to break traditional images of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films, which are generally thought to be applicable only for traditional amphiphile-like molecules such as lipids and surfactants. Various examples of Langmuir films of unusual organic molecules, supermolecules, polymers, liquid crystals, DNA strands, proteins, organic-inorganic hybrids, inorganic nanoparticles and nanorods are introduced. These descriptions should stimulate the reader in the design of various functional systems using concepts related to Langmuir-Blodgett technique.