Molecular transfer of surfactant bilayers: widening the range of substrates.
Handling nanometer-thick films and nano-objects remains a challenge. Applying self-assembly properties of surfactants to nanomaterials manipulation may be the key to the fast, easy, cost-effective growth of 2D and 3D nanostructures. Newton black films (NBFs) are self-assembled bilayers of surfactant, well-organized, but fragile objects. To render such films amenable to practical applications, it is necessary to find ways to transfer them onto solid substrates. A method developed recently to transfer NBFs onto a solid substrate while preserving their molecular organization (Benattar, J.-J.; Nedyalkov, M.; Lee, F. K.; Tsui, O. K. C. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 4186) is broadened here to different surfaces. The method requires hydrophobic, planar, atomically smooth surfaces. This study presents the adhesion of a fluorinated NBF surfactant onto hydrophobically treated silica and silicon surfaces (with etching or silanization). The structures of the free-standing film, bare substrates, and transferred films are investigated using X-ray reflectivity. The homogeneity of the surfaces before and after bilayer deposition is examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Multiple transfers are tested and described for the future development of more complex architectures involving many surfactant layers and inserted nanosized objects.
Andreatta
Gaëlle
G
Service de Physique de l'Etat Condensé (CNRS URA 2464) DSM/DRECAM/SPEC, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, Cedex, France. gaelle.andreatta@cea.fr
Wang
Yong Jian
YJ
Lee
Fuk Kay
FK
Polidori
Ange
A
Tong
Penger
P
Pucci
Bernard
B
Benattar
Jean-Jacques
JJ
D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005461:Fluorine / Q000737:chemistry; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008074:Lipoproteins; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014965:X-Rays
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D005461:Fluorine; D012825:Silicon