Polyoxometalate Surfactants as Unique Molecules for Interfacial Self-Assembly.
Whereas, commonly, Langmuir monolayers are structurally dominated by the aliphatic chains, we present here the first case of monolayers where the chains merely serve anchoring at the air/water interface and the organization is dictated by the hydrophilic head group self-assembling in a hexagonal lattice. These head groups are polyoxometalates known for their multifunctional potential. The chain length has been systematically varied, allowing for a general study of the impact of the chain length on the supramolecular structure. These model structures are studied here by a combination of modern techniques, the leading ones being X-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. The quantitative structural insights offered in this Letter might represent a starting point for the rational design and study of a new class of emulsions, including an organic tail and a multifunctional inorganic polar head.
†Department of Interfaces, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.|‡Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Juan J
JJ
Giner-Casares
†Department of Interfaces, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
Gerald
G
Brezesinski
†Department of Interfaces, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
Helmuth
H
Möhwald
§Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.
Steve
S
Landsmann
§Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Polarz
functional vesicles; polyoxometalates; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry; surfactants