Structural investigation of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of semifluorinated alkanes

J Phys Chem B. 2006 Mar 30;110(12):6095-100. doi: 10.1021/jp057270u.

Abstract

The behavior of a semi-fluorinated alkane (C(10)F(21)C(19)H(39)) has been studied at the air-water interface by using surface pressure and surface potential-area isotherms as well as infrared spectroscopy for the Langmuir-Blodgett films. In addition, based on the quantum chemical PM3 semiempirical approach, the dimer structure was investigated, and the double helix was found to be the most stable conformation of the dimer. The obtained results allow us to imply that the phase transition observed in the course of the surface pressure/area isotherm is due to a conformational change originating from the double helix to a vertical, single helix configuration.