APPLICATION OF CRYOELECTRON MICROSCOPY TO SELF-ASSEMBLED MIXED MONOLAYERS FOR STUDYING CRYSTALLINITY AND TWINNING

The method of cryo-transmission electron microscopy has been applied t o study twinning behavior of mixed monolayers of 3-(eicosanoylamino) p ropionic acid and eicosanoamide spread on water and CdCl2 aqueous solu tion. The monolayers were deposited with a thin layer of aqueous subph ase on grids which were vitrified by plunging into liquid ethane. Vari ous electron diffraction patterns were observed and interpreted in ter ms of formation of two-dimensional (2-D) crystallites which display si ngle and multiple twinning. Morphological features of the monolayer fi lms were also obtained from bright and dark field images.