An ultra-thin, self-assembling molecular film has ordered amphiphilic molecules that are oriented relative to one another in two directions.
The film is made by delivering a substantially continuous curtain of film-forming solution containing amphiphilic molecules to a surface of an aqueous liquid, confining the film-forming solution against movement in all but one direction along the said surface, whereby the film-forming solution solidifies into a self-assembling molecular fluid membrane in which the molecules are ordered and arranged in aligned units that are themselves oriented relative to one another in two directions generally parallel to the said surface.
Apparatus for carrying out this method comprises liquid-holding means (A) for holding an aqueous liquid having a liquid surface and on which a film-forming solution containing amphiphilic molecules is solidifiable, the said liquid-holding means (A) having side boundaries (14, 16) at opposite ends of a width dimension extending substantially perpendicular to a film-forming direction, and delivery means (B) for delivering a film-forming solution containing amphiphilic molecules to the liquid-holding means (A) in a substantially continuous thin stream extending substantially continuously across the said width dimension, whereby the solution floats in an aqueous liquid held by the liquid-holding means (A) and solidifies into the desired film.
The film may be applied directly to a substrate as it is produced.
一种超薄的自组装分子薄膜具有有序的两亲分子,这些两亲分子在两个方向上相互定向。
制膜的方法是将含有两亲性分子的成膜溶液基本上连续地输送到
水性液体的表面,限制成膜溶液沿所述表面除一个方向以外的所有方向移动,从而使成膜溶液凝固成自组装分子流体膜,其中的分子有序地排列成排列单元,这些单元本身在大致平行于所述表面的两个方向上相对于彼此定向。
用于实施该方法的装置包括液体保持装置(A),用于保持具有液面的
水性液体,在液面上含有两亲性分子的成膜溶液是可凝固的,所述液体保持装置(A)在宽度尺寸的相对两端具有侧边界(14,16),该宽度尺寸基本上垂直于成膜方向延伸、以及输送装置(B),用于将含有两亲分子的成膜溶液以基本连续的细流输送到液体保持装置(A),该细流基本连续地穿过所述宽度尺寸,溶液在液体保持装置(A)保持的
水性液体中漂浮并凝固成所需的薄膜。
薄膜可在生产过程中直接贴在基底上。