Synthesis of nickel sulfide using Langmuir-Blodgett films of nickel complex of 2-hydroxy-5-nitro-N-benzylidene hexadecylamine monolayers at air/waterinterface

A new amphiphilic Schiff base 2-hydroxy-5-nitro-N-benzylidene hexadecylamin e (2H5NHDB) has been synthesized and its monolayer properties at the air/wa ter interface have been studied. Surface pressure/molecular area (pi -A) an d surface potential/molecular area (DeltaV-A) isotherms have been used to c haracterize the ligand and its complexation with nickel has been monitored using surface enhanced UV-Vis reflection spectroscopy at the gas/water inte rface. The complexation leads to either a shift or the appearance of new ba nds in the spectra. The preferred orientation and organization of the ligan d into dimers at the air/water interface helps formation of stable nickel c omplexes. Sulfidation of the nickel complex (LB film) leads to uniform sphe rical clusters of nickel sulfide. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.