A molecular dynamics study of the packing structures in monolayers of partially fluorinated amphiphiles

Abstract

We report the results of molecular dynamics simulations of liquid-supported monolayers of three partially fluorinated amphiphile molecules, namely CF3(CF2)9CH2COOH, CF3(CF2)6CH2(CF2)3COOH, and CF3(CF2)6(CH2)4COOH. These studies were undertaken to provide information on the interplay between molecular flexibility and the packing structure in a monolayer so as to better interpret the results of recent experiments. The qualitative aspects of the predictions of the simulations are consistent with the recent experimental data for monolayers of CF3(CF2)9CH2COOH [S. W. Barton, A. Goudot, O. Boulassa, F. Rondelez, B. Lin, F. Novak, A. Acero, and S. A. Rice, J. Chem. Phys. 96, xxx (1992)]. In particular, the observed breakup of the homogeneous ordered monolayer into ordered islands with the same collective tilt of the molecules is correctly predicted, and the fact that the collective tilt angle is small is correctly predicted. However, the experimental and theoretical values of the tilt angles are not in quantitative agreement, which we attribute to the inadequacy of the atom–atom potentials used in the simulations. In general, for monolayers of CF3(CF2)9CH2COOH we find that the collective tilt angle predicted is a sensitive function of the area per molecule and is smaller than in monolayers of alkane alcohols and alkane acids. The results of the simulations of monolayers of other partially fluorinated species suggest that the difference in size between the fluorocarbon segments and the smaller head groups or flexible ‘‘spacer’’ CH2 segments can generate subtle changes in the packing structure of a monolayer and the relative stabilities of the untilted and tilted structures.