CONTROL OF STRUCTURE AND GROWTH OF POLYMORPHIC CRYSTALLINE THIN-FILMSOF AMPHIPHILIC MOLECULES ON LIQUID SURFACES

The spontaneous formation and coexistence of crystalline polymorphic t rilayer domains in amphiphilic films at air-liquid interfaces is demon strated by grazing incidence synchrotron x-ray diffraction. These poly morphic crystallites may serve as models for the early stages of cryst al nucleation and growth, helping to elucidate the manner in which add itives influence the progress of crystal nucleation, growth, and polym orphism and suggesting ways of selectively generating and controlling multilayers on liquid surfaces. Auxiliary molecules have been designed to selectively inhibit development of the polymorphs, leading primari ly to a single phase monolayer.