Abstract
Hydrothermal and dry-heat treatments (HTT and DHT, respectively) are studied on the mixed LB films of a merocyanine and Cd arachidate. The HTT process under 100%-humidity condition is found to involve two stages: the as-deposited J-band first dissociates and then a new phase of J-band appears to grow associated with round-shaped superstructure as large as up to ~0.1 mm in diameter. The DHT process under dry ambient dissociates the original J-band without appreciable changes in film texture. The first stage of HTT terminates within 1 min at temperatures higher than 60°C, while the J-band peak after DHT at 60°C for 30 min retains ea. 85% of its original height. X-ray diffraction reveals that the LB lamellar structure remains intact in both HTT and DHT processes with an enhanced ordering of Cd ion alignment. As for the role of the water content, the lubrication effect is preferred to the hydration effect.
