Monolayer studies of novel synthetic compounds and biological systems

A general review on preparation and methods of characterization of monolayers was given in Chapter 1. Different projects were undertaken in the research of this dissertation. Neutron and X-ray reflection studies of fullerene C{dollar}sb{lcub}60{rcub}{dollar} and its derivative monolayers were performed in Chapter 1. Neutron and X-ray reflection measurements and surface pressure isotherms of spread films of C{dollar}sb{lcub}60{rcub}{dollar}-dodecylamine adduct C{dollar}sb{lcub}60{rcub}{dollar}-(NH{dollar}rmsb2(CHsb2)sb{lcub}11{rcub}CHsb3rbracksb{lcub}x{rcub}{dollar} and C{dollar}sb{lcub}60{rcub}{dollar}-propylamine adduct C{dollar}sb{lcub}60{rcub}{dollar}-(NH{dollar}rmsb2Csb3Hsb7rbracksb{lcub}x{rcub}{dollar} indicate that these C{dollar}sb{lcub}60{rcub}{dollar} derivatives may form monomolecular layers on water surface. By contrast, neutron reflection and surface pressure vs. area data of spread films of pure C{dollar}sb{lcub}60{rcub}{dollar} on aqueous surfaces indicated the formation of inhomogeneous multilayer films with a thickness and a surface roughness exceeding the molecular size. These underivatized fullerenes thus did not form monomolecular films.; In Chapter 2, nanoscale size particles were synthesized inside the channel protein MIP-26 using monolayer technique. Cadmium and zinc sulfides were formed within the cavity of a channel protein by a simple process in which a close-packed monolayer of the channel protein was formed on a neutral subphase, transported to a cadmium-chloride-containing subphase, transferred to a quartz slide by Langmuir-Blodgett transfer and exposed to hydrogen sulfide. The cadmium and zinc sulfides were produced in the "quantum dot" size 2 range as evidenced by their markedly blue-shifted optical spectra.; In Chapter 4, monolayer characteristics were determined for three isomeric phospholipids and their daughter compounds. These surfactants displayed surprisingly high solubility in the water subphase; stable monolayers could not be formed even at 7-8{dollar}spcirc{dollar}C. Reproducible surface pressure-area isotherms were obtained for these surfactants using a subphase of an aqueous 30% polyethylene glycol. Surface potential measurements generally remained constant throughout the range of compression.; Finally in this dissertation, the monolayer properties of Bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a) were investigated at the nitrogen-water interface. This study focused on BChl a monolayers with and without phospholipids as matrix molecules. The interaction between BChl a and these phospholipids was investigated by both surface pressure-area and surface potential measurements. The presence of partially oxidized BChl a was also shown by the Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS) spectra.