Anode Electropolished Stainless Steel with an Oxidized Surface as a New Substrate Material for the Langmuir-Blodgett Technique

Abstract

The suitability of the electropolished stainless steel whose surface oxidized by thermal treatment, which has been developed for use in super-clean rooms, as a substrate for the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique was investigated. This metallic material could be used as either a hydrophilic or a hydrophobic substrate. The properties of the LB films deposited onto the substrate were as good as those onto a glass substrate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that LB layers were deposited in a highly ordered manner. The plasma polymerization replica of LB layers was prepared and observed using transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that the image of the LB layers on the prepared substrate was the same as that on a quartz substrate. It was found that this substrate is suitable for purposes of making measurements and observations of the LB film.