Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Langmuir—Blodgett films

  • Chapter
Principles and Applications of Nonlinear Optical Materials

Abstract

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films are exceedingly thin films (2.5-1000 nm) which, under optimum circumstances, have a highly organized layer structure at a molecular level. Although LB films have been known since the 1930s (Gaines, 1966), only about twenty years ago was it recognized that the order at the molecular level could possibly be exploited for applications in opto-electronics, microelectronics and molecular electronics. As a consequence the last twenty years have seen intense research activity on LB films (Prasad and Williams, 1990; Ulman, 1991a). Great progress has been made but as yet no commercial device has been produced. Research, however, still proceeds vigorously on a number of fronts towards this objective.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ahmad, M. M., Feast, W. J., Neal, D. B., Petty, M. C. and Roberts, G. G. (1986) 4-n-Heptadecylamido-4’-nitrostilbene, a new Langmuir-Blodgett film material for nonlinear optics, J. Mol. Electron . 2, 129–133.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aktsipetrov, O. A., Akhmediev, I. M., Mishina, E. D. and Novak, V. R. (1983) Second-harmonic generation from a monolayer of an azobenzene derivative, J.E.T.P. Lett. 37, 207–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aktsipetrov, O. A., Akhmediev, N. N., Baranova, I. M., Mishina, E. D. and Navok, V. R. (1985) Multilayer Langmuir films for electro-optics and nonlinear optical methods for their study, Soy. Tech. Lett. 11, 249–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashwell, G. J. (1990) Photochromic and nonlinear properties of C16H33-P3CNQ and C16H33Q3CNQ Langmuir-Blodgett films, Thin Solid Films 186, 155–165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashwell, G. J., Dawnay, E. J. C., Kuczynski, A. P. and Martin, P. J. (1991) The highest observed second-harmonic intensity from a multilayered Langmuir-Blodgett film structure, in: Physical Concepts and Materials for Novel Optoelectronic Devices, Proceedings S.P.I.E. Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. no.1361, pp. 589–598.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aveyard, R., Binks, B. P., Fletcher, P. D. I., Ancelin, H. and Yarwood, J. (1991) Properties of insoluble monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of a series of isomeric alkyl-phenyl carboxylic acids, Thin Solid Films 200, 181–202.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, S., Petty, M. C., Roberts, G. G. and Twigg, M. V. (1983) The preparation and properties of stable metal-free phthalocyanine Langmuir-Blodgett films, Thin Solid Films 99, 53–59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, J. W., Buhaenko, M., Moyle, B. and Ratcliffe, N. M. (1988) A promising material for nonlinear optics: Observation of second-harmonic generation from [N-(4-carboxypentyl)-Nmethylamino]-4’-nitrostilbene coated substrates, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Comm. 488–489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkovic, G., Shen, Y. R. and Prasad, P. N. (1987) Third-harmonic generation from a monolayer film of a polydiacetylene, poly-4-BCMU, J. Chem. Phys. 87, 1897–1898.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bosshard, C., Kuepfer, M.. Guenter, P., Pasquier, C., Zahir, S. and Seifert, M. (1990) Optical second-harmonic generation in Langmuir—Blodgett films of novel donor—acceptor substituted pyridine and benzene derivatives, Appl. Phys. Lett. 56, 1204–1206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, N., Goodwin, M. J., McRoberts, A. M., Gray, G. W., Marsden, R. and Scrowston, R. M. (1987) Second-harmonic generation in a monomolecular Langmuir—Blodgett film of a preformed polymer, Makromol. Chem., Rapid Commun. 8, 487–493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cross, G. H., Girling, I. R.. Cade, N. A., Earls, T. D. and Peterson, I. R. (1987) Optically nonlinear Langmuir—Blodgett films: Linear electro-optic properties of monolayers, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4, 962–967.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cross, G. H., Peterson, I. R., Girling, I. R., Cade, N. A., Goodwin, M. J., Carr, N., Sethi, R. S., Marsden, R., Gray, G. W., Lacey, D., McRoberts, A. M., Scrowston, R. M. and Toyne, K. J. (1988) Comparison of second-harmonic generatin and electrooptic studies of Langmuir—Blodgett monolayers of new hemicyanine dyes, Thin Solid Films 156, 39–52.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durfee, W. S., Storck, W., Willig, F. and von Frieling, M. (1987) Davydov splitting in 7-(2-anthryl)-1-heptanoic acid Langmuir—Blodgett films, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 109, 1297–1301.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaines, G. L. (1966) Insoluble Monolayers at Liquid—Gas Interfaces, Interscience, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Girling, I. R., Kolinsky, P. V.. Cade, N. A., Earls, J. D. and Peterson, I. R. (1985a) Second-harmonic generation from alternating Langmuir—Blodgett films, Opt. Commun. 55, 289–292.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Girling, I. R., Cade, N. A.. Kolinsky, P. V. and Montgomery, C. M. (1985b) Observation of second-harmonic generation from a Langmuir—Blodgett monolayer of a merocyanine, Electron. Lett. 21, 169–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Girling, I. R., Jethwa, S. R., Stewart, R. T., Earls, J. D., Cross, G. H., Cade, N. A., Kolinsky, P. V., Jones, R. J. and Peterson, I. R. (1988) Second-order non-linear optical effects in Langmuir—Blodgett films. Thin Solid Films 160, 355–362.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grundy, M. J., Musgrove, R. J., Richardson, R. M., Roser, S. J. and Penfold, J. (1990) Effect of dipping rate on alternating layer Langmuir—Blodgett film structure, Langmuir 6, 519–521.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, R. C., Lindsay, G. A., Anderson, B., Kowel, S. T., Higgins B. G. and Stroeve, P. (1988) Optically nonlinear films of amphiphilic polymers: Langmuir—Blodgett deposition and optical measurements, Mater. Res. Soc. Proc. 109, 351–356.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayden, L. M., Kowel, S. T. and Srinivasan, M. P. (1987) Enhanced second-harmonic generation from multilayered Langmuir—Blodgett films, Opt. Commun. 61, 351–356.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hodge, P., Davis, F. and Tredgold, R. H. (1990) Preformed polymers for Langmuir—Blodgett films, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. London 330, 153–166.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hodge, P., Towns, C. R., Thomas, R. K. and Shackleton, C. (1992a) Neutron reflectivity studies of spread monolayers of derivatives of styrene—maleic anhydride copolymers at the air—water interface, Langmuir 8, 585–593.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hodge, P., Ali-Adib, Z., King, T. A. and West, D. (1992b) Unpublished results.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R., Tredgold, R. H., Hoorfar, A., Allen, R. A. and Hodge, P. (1985) Crystal formation and growth in Langmuir—Blodgett multilayers of azobenzene derivatives: Optical and structural studies, Thin Solid Films 134, 57–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kajzar, F. and Messier, J. (1985) Resonance enhancement in cubic susceptibility of Langmuir—Blodgett multilayers of polydiacetylene, Thin Solid Films 132, 11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalina, D. W. and Grubb, S. G. (1988) Langmuir—Blodgett films of non-centrosymmetric azobenzene dyes for non-linear optical applications. Thin Solid Films 160 363–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Logsdon, P. B., Pfleger, J. and Prasad, P. N. (1988) Conductive and optically nonlinear polymeric Langmuir—Blodgett films of poly(3-dodecylthiophene), Synth. Met. 26, 369–381.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKeown, N. B., Cook, M. J., Thomson, A. J., Harrison, K. J., Daniel, M. F., Richardson, R. M. and Roser, S. R. (1988) New asymmetric substitution of phthalocyanines: Derivatives designed for deposition as Langmuir—Blodgett films, Thin Solid Films 159, 469–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyashita, T., Yoshida, H., Murakata, T. and Matsuda, M. (1987) Polymerization of N-octadecylacrylamide in Langmuir—Blodgett multilayers, Polymer 28 311–320.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakahara, H. and Fukuda, K. (1983) Orientation of chromophores in monolayers and multi-layers of azobenzene derivatives with long alkyl chains, J. Coll. Interface Sci. 93, 530–539.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nalwa, H. S., Nakajima, K., Watanabe, T., Nakamura, K., Yamada, A. and Miyata, S. (1991) Second-harmonic generation in Langmuir—Blodgett monolayer of a two-dimensional charge-transfer molecule: N,N’-dioctadecyl-4,6-dinitro-1,3-diaminobenzene, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 30 983–989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neal, D. B., Petty, M. C., Roberts, G. G., Ahmad, M. M., Feast, W. J., Girling, I. R., Cade, N. A., Kolinsky, P. V. and Peterson, I. R., (1986) Second-harmonic generation from LB superlattices containing two active components, Electron. Lett. 22, 460–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orthmann, F. and Wegner, G. (1986) Preparation of ultrathin layers of molecularly controlled architecture from polymeric phthalocyanines by the Langmuir—Blodgett technique, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Eng. 25, 1105–1107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, I. (1990) Langmuir—Blodgett films, J. Phys. D. Appl. Phys. 23 379–395.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popovitz-Biro, R., Hill, K., Landau, E. M., Lahav, M., Leiserowitz, L., Sagiv, J., Hsiung, H., Meredith, G. R. and Vanherzeele, H. (1988) A new class of stable head to tail (Z-type) Langmuir—Blodgett film. A second-harmonic generation study, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1102672–2674.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, P. N. (1988) Third-order nonlinear optical effects in organic polymeric films, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 109 271–282.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, P. N. and Williams, D. J. (1990) Introduction to Non-linear Optical Effects in Molecules and Polymers, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimomura, M., Song, K. and Rabolt, J. F. (1992) Spectroscopic determination of diffusion in Langmuir—Blodgett films, Langmuir 8 887–893.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stroeve, P., Srinivasan, M. P., Higgins, B. G. and Kowel, S. T. (1987) Langmuir—Blodgett multi-layers of polymer—merocyanine—dye mixtures, Thin Solid Films 146 209–220.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stroeve, P., Rabolt, J. F., Hilleke, R. O., Fetcher, G. P. and Chen, S.-H. (1990) Interdiffusion of cadmium arachidate in Langmuir—Blodgett films, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 166 103–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tredgold, R. H., Vickers, A. J., Hoorfar, A., Hodge, P. and Khoshdel, E. (1985) X-ray analysis of some porphyrin and polymer Langmuir—Blodgett films, J. Phys. D. Appl. Phys. 18 1139–1145.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tredgold, R. H., Allen, R. A. and Hodge, P. (1987) X-ray diffraction and optical studies of Langmuir—Blodgett films formed from azobenzene derivatives, Thin Solid Films 155 343–352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tredgold, R. H., Evans, S. D., Hodge, P. and Hoorfar, A. (1988) Structural and electrical studies of alternating layers of porphyrins and fatty acids, Thin Solid Films 160 99–105.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ulman, A. (1991a) Introduction to Ultrathin Organic Films, Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulman, A. (1991b) Analysis of film properties in: Introduction to Ultrathin Organic Films, Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 1–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, M. C. J., Jones, R., Tredgold, R. H., Lu, W. X., Ali-Adib, Z., Hodge, P. and Abassi, F. (1989) Optical and structural characterization of Langmuir—Blodgett multilayers of non-polymeric and polymeric hemicyanines, Thin Solid Films, 182 319–332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. P. Hodge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. B. McKeown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, UMIST, Manchester, UK

    R. W. Munn

  2. Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK

    C. N. Ironside

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hodge, P., McKeown, N.B. (1993). Langmuir—Blodgett films. In: Munn, R.W., Ironside, C.N. (eds) Principles and Applications of Nonlinear Optical Materials. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2158-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2158-3_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4955-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2158-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation