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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Perforated monolayers

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5040930· OSTI ID:5040930

The goals of this DOE-sponsored program are to create novel organic thin films that possess well-defined and adjustable molecular pores; i.e. perforated monolayers,'' and to use such film for fabricating composite membranes that have unique permeation characteristics. The specific strategy that has been adopted involves (1) the synthesis of surfactant molecules bearing internal pores, i.e., porous surfactants,'' (2) the assembly of such molecules at an air--water interface, and (3) the stabilization of the resulting assembly via polymerization, before or after transfer to a macroporous support. Research that has been carried out to date has demonstrated the feasibility of using suitably designed calix(n)arene molecules as a basis for constructing perforated monolayers. Specifically, a broad range of calix(n)arenes have been mercurated with mercury trifluoracetate, and used to form polymerized and porous monolayers at the air--water interface. In related studies, p-tert- butylcalix(6)arene has been shown to produce stable monolayers at the air--water interface; removal of the p-tert-butyl groups afford a unique vesicle-forming surfactant, calix(6)arene.

Research Organization:
Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (USA). Dept. of Chemistry
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-85ER13403
OSTI ID:
5040930
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13403-2; ON: DE90005469
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English