Morphology Observation and J-Aggregation Characteristics of Merocyanine Dye with Arachidic Acid LB Films

Abstract

In order to confirm the application possibility to the molecular electronic device, the morphological property of arachidic acid (AA) was investigated. We have determined morphology by BAM and AFM. π-A curves investigated surface pressure of this LB film from liquid to solid state ranged between 40 to 45 mN/m. BAM images investigated the different states of AA LB film. When the surface pressure reaches at 40 mN/m, the monolayer was deposited onto the hydrophilic glass substrates by Y-type deposition. We investigated morphological property of arachidic acid by AFM. As a result, we obtained the frequency characteristic and morphology of LB films from controlling the deposited layers. In this paper, I review this subject mainly based on our recent results in merocyanine dye. LB films of merocyanine dye, mixed with arachidic acid, exhibit J-aggregate formation and have been serving as typical systems in revealing the physical and structural aspects of nano-sized molecular aggregates constructed as muiltilayers.

Keywords:

• AFM
• J-aggregate
• LB film
• merocyanine dye

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) grant funded by the Korea government (MOST). (No. R01-2006-000-11120-0).