SELF-ASSEMBLED CRYSTALLINE MONOLAYERS AND MULTILAYERS OF N-ALKANES ONTHE WATER-SURFACE

The induced formation of multilayer crystallites al liquid interfaces provides a direct means of monitoring the dynamics of crystal nucleati on and of elucidating the effect of molecular inhibitors on polymorphi sm and crystal growth. The spontaneous formation of crystalline multil ayers of n-alkanes spread from solution onto the water interface are d escribed and X-ray structural investigations discussed which indicate that the full crystal symmetry is present even in layers that are only a few unit cells thick.