Combined scanning force, lateral force, and scanning surface potential microscopy on phase-separated Langmuir–Blodgett films

Abstract

Phase-separated Langmuir–Blodgett films composed of one- and two-component amphiphiles are studied by scanning probe microscopy. Information obtained from various methods, such as scanning force microscopy, lateral force microscopy, and scanning surface potential microscopy, allow one to understand the nucleation, the initial growth of the condensed phase, and the miscibility of differing components in such quasi 2D systems.