Transitions to a new chiral phase in a Langmuir monolayer

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.473825· OSTI ID:544520

Durbin, M K; Malik, A; Richter, A G; Ghaskadvi, R ^[1]; Gog, T ^[2]; Dutta, P ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208 (United States)
2. Metals and Ceramics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 (United States)

Isotherms and x-ray diffraction studies of eicosanoic acid Langmuir monolayers show a phase in which the molecular tilt is intermediate between nearest-neighbor (NN) and next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) directions. The transition from this I phase to an NN-tilted structure is first order, with a {approximately}60{degree} change in the tilt direction, while the transition to an NNN-tilted structure is apparently continuous. These results can be explained using a Landau-type theory for uniaxially distorted lattices, which is a modification of an existing theory for hexagonal lattices [J. V. Selinger and D. R. Nelson, Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 61}, 416 (1988)]. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-84ER45125
• OSTI ID: 544520
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 106; ISSN JCPSA6; ISSN 0021-9606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
CHIRALITY
EICOSANOIC ACID
ISOTHERMS
LIPIDS
Langmuir-Blodgett films
PHASE DIAGRAMS
THIN FILMS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION