FORMATION OF A SUPRA-MOLECULAR STRUCTURE BY REDOX-POLYMERIZATION OF SURFACE MONOLAYERS

The two-dimensional, redox polymerization of the surface monolayers of N,N-dimethyl-N,N-dioctadecylammonium styrene sulfonate and their morphological variation were described. Polymerization processes could be detected by measuring the change in molecular area at a constant surface pressure. The redox polymerization proceeded successfully and was completed within about ten minutes. Morphological variation of the monolayers upon polymerization was observed by using a fluorescence microscope. Before polymerization, the fluorescence was homogeneous throughout the field of observation over a wide range of surface pressures. After polymerization, the monolayer provided a well-grown crystalline domain, whose shape and size were dependent upon the surface pressure.