Nanoscale characterization of porous organic thin films fabricated at the air/liquid interface

Abstract

Porous thin films are useful adsorbents, which are capable of trapping particular atoms and molecules. Among various fabrication methods, film formation at the air-liquid interface using Langmuir trough is of interest. We have fabricated thin films of two types of molecules, which are different in size, but similar in chemical composition and structure. Atomic force microscopy images confirmed successful film formation for both molecules. Molecular dynamics simulation indicates that the structural stabilization is achieved by stacking of two-dimensional monolayers.