Abstract
Nonlinear optical techniques (second-harmonic and sum-frequency generation) have been used to study the structure of organic molecules that are confined and compressed between a lens and a flat surface. The molecules studied include self-assembled monolayers of n-octadecyltriethoxysilane and Langmuir-Blodgett films of stearic acid, octadecylalcohol, octadecylamine, and a liquid-crystal molecule 4'-n-octyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (8CB). The contact area created by elastic deformation of the flat surface and lens under pressure was large enough to contain the entire laser beam (>100 \ensuremath{\mu}m radius at \ensuremath{\approxeq}10 MPa for R=15 cm). Under these conditions, the sum-frequency generation (from ${\mathrm{CH}}_{3}$ and OH stretch modes) and second-harmonic generation (8CB) signals were found to decrease by a factor between 100 and 1000 times the original signal. This indicates vanishing of the second-order monolayer susceptibility due to disorder of the head groups and/or flattening of the molecular axis so that they lie parallel to the surface. The phenomenon was reversible and the nonlinear signals recovered completely upon removal of the pressure.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
