Monolayers, LB Films, and Bilayer Membranes From Molecular Assembly to Molecular Organization

Abstract

Historical development of the research trend on LB films, invented by I. Langmuir and K. Blodgett in the 1930's, with relation to the molecular organization is briefly summarized in this article. A large attention was paid to LB films expected as important key materials of “molecular electronics devices” emerged in the 1980's. LB films were widely expected in the field of electronics, photonics, biotechnology, and sensing technology. The development and modern aspect of the LB film research inspired new generation of “molecular self-assembly”. The “polyion complex deposition technique” merged the two worlds of LB films and bilayer membranes, and induced a new technology of the “Layer by Layer” deposition. Mesooscopic pattern formation during dewetting process of LB film deposition provided a new field of molecular patterning based on “self-organization”.