Oriented monolayers prepared from lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal

We use a layer-by layer electrostatic self-assembly technique to obtain in-plane oriented aggregates of mesogenic dye molecules cast from lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) on mica substrates. The aqueous solutions of dye used for deposition are in the nematic phase. Atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the dried film reveal that the LCLC molecules adsorb at the charged substrate preserving ordered aggregates of elongated shape characteristic of the nematic phase in the aqueous solution. These elongated aggregates of LCLC molecules form films with in-plane orientational order and are compositionally distinct from the substrate.