Self-assembly of organic monolayers below the freezing threshold

One measure that arctic fish and amphibians use to minimize damage to cellular membranes during cooling and freezing processes is the production of cryo-protective substances. We have mimicked this biological "trick" by using the surface of a cryo-protectant as a liquid subphase for the pr...

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Veröffentlicht in:Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids. - 1992. - 25(2009), 10 vom: 19. Mai, Seite 5614-8
1. Verfasser: Wiegart, Lutz (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: O'Flaherty, Seán M, Schmacke, Saskia, Gleyzolle, Henri, Struth, Bernd
Format: Online-Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2009
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
Schlagworte:Journal Article
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:One measure that arctic fish and amphibians use to minimize damage to cellular membranes during cooling and freezing processes is the production of cryo-protective substances. We have mimicked this biological "trick" by using the surface of a cryo-protectant as a liquid subphase for the preparation of organic membranes. Following this innovative approach, quasi two-dimensional amphiphilic monolayers were cooled to -40 degrees C at a liquid/gas interface. To date, the low temperature region of the generic phase diagram for alkane chain molecules has been only "virtually" accessible by tuning the molecular chain length. By extending the temperature range well below the freezing point of water, we gained new insights into membrane stability, morphology, and reorganization at low temperatures. Upon cooling relaxed monolayers at a surface pressure of 4.5 mN/m, we find a transition from a mesophase with tilted chains at ambient temperature toward a crystalline phase with upright chains at low temperatures. Structure factor calculations reveal that the chain alignment in the crystalline phase differs from the classical herringbone configuration
Beschreibung:Date Completed 23.07.2009
Date Revised 12.05.2009
published: Print
Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE
ISSN:1520-5827
DOI:10.1021/la804016t