MORPHOLOGIES OF PHASE-SEPARATED MONOLAYERS INVESTIGATED BY ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY

The miscibility behavior and surface morphology of a mixed monolayer, stearic acid (SA) with 5,10,15-triphenyl-20-(4-DL-phenylalanylamindo) phenyl porphyrin (TPPP), were studied by analyzing the surface pressur e vs. molecular area isotherms and atomic force microscopy (AFM) image s of the transferred monolayer films. The mixed monolayer is a two-pha se system with a liquid-condensed phase consisting of SA and a liquid- expanded phase consisting of TPPP with a trace of SA. The different do main structures of SA sensitive to surface pressure, compression rate, annealing, etc. were also studied with AFM in detail.