Structure and electronic properties of Langmuir-Blodgett films of calixarene/fullerene composites

Abstract

Composite Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films were prepared from mixtures of fullerene (C 60) with various amphiphilic calixarene derivatives having different molecular shape and cavity dimensions. Pressure/ surface area isotherm measurements, ellipsometry and ultraviolet-visible optical absorption spectra gave information about the structure and molecular arrangement in the composite LB films. The morphology of films obtained was studied with scanning electron microscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy techniques. It was shown that all calixarene compounds used in the present work are suitable for incorporation of C 60 molecules into their matrix, and good-quality LB films can be produced. However, perfect LB films having non-aggregated C 60 molecules were obtained only in the case of calix[8]arene matrix, this being due to the formation of a C[8]A C 60 inclusion complex.