Finite-size effects in biomimetic smectic films.
Thin stacks of lipid multibilayers supported on rigid silicon and mica substrates are found to exhibit finite-size effects. Using neutron diffraction we find that the repeat spacing (d) of stacks containing up to a few tens of bilayers depends on their thickness (D), with d increasing with decreasing D. Differences in d are larger in the low-temperature Lbeta' phase consisting of rigid bilayers than in the high-temperature Lalpha phase where the bilayers are more flexible. Various scenarios that may be responsible for this counterintuitive observation are discussed.
Harroun
T A
TA
Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada K0J 1J0.
Raghunathan
V A
VA
Pencer
J
J
Nieh
M-P
MP
Katsaras
J
J
D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D033363:Neutron Diffraction / Q000379:methods*; D044367:Phase Transition; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine