A new series of amphiphilic molecules forming stable Z-type (polar) Langmuir-Blodgett films

A new series of amphiphilic molecules bearing two amide groups along the hydrocarbon chain form head-to-tail Z-type (polar) multilayers by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, in contrast with the common amphiphiles that tend to deposit in the head-to-head, tail-to-tail Y-type fashion. Molecules with one amide group along the chain form Y-type or Z-type structures, depending on the location of the amide along the chain. p-Nitroaniline or merocyanine groups could be aligned in a polar sense, by attaching them covalently to such amphiphiles, to yield multilayers displaying second-harmonic generation (SHG). These films were characterized by ellipsometric, X-ray diffraction, IR, UV, and SHG measurements. The Z-type deposition correlates with the observed low water contact angles of the films, indicating formation of porous structures in which water may penetrate.