The role of subphase chemistry in controlling monolayer behaviour

Intermolecular interactions lie at the root of many fundamental processes in nature. For example, they define membrane formation and crystallisation processes. Here, using Langmuir monolayers, we have investigated the role of intermolecular interactions in defining non-equilibrium monolayer structure and response, specific to a nucleating subphase chemistry. In particular, the interactions in mixed alcohol/carboxylic acid systems have been explored on four different subphases: ultrapure water, calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and a calcium carbonate crystallising subphase. Area per molecule, surface pressure and surface potential were analysed as a function of mol% ratio of acid to alcohol on each of the subphases. Comparison of the data across the subphases showed that three main interactions dictate the behaviour of the monolayer: (1) formation of a hydrogen-bonding network (predominantly dominating intramonolayer structure), (2) electrostatic interactions between the charged monolayer and strongly binding counterions and (3) the formation of a hydrogen-bonded soap network induced by the presence of bicarbonate coions. The latter provides a potential mechanism for defining directionality of interfacial interactions, and therefore face-selective nucleation. We have investigated the monolayer/subphase interactions on precursor electrolytes to elucidate the interaction on a calcium carbonate crystallising subphase. From this we hypothesise a hydrogen-bonded soap complex as the mechanism for face-selective nucleation.