Preparation and Characterization of C-16 and C-10 Fluorescent Dipyrrinone Liquid Crystal Langmuir-Blodgett Films

A new C-16 and C-10 Fluorescent Dipyrrinone Liquid Crystal has been synthesized by the University of West Florida's Chemistry department. The liquid crystals have amphiphilic properties with their dipyrrinone polar heads and long hydrocarbon nonpolar tails. This led to the preparation and characterization of their Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett Film, using a Nima Langmuir-Blodgett Trough. The influence of the length of the hydrocarbon tail on the behavior of the pressure-area isotherm of the Langmuir film is studied. There is considerable difference in the behavior of the C-16 and C-10 Fluorescent Dipyrrinone Liquid Crystal Films prepared. Ellipsometric characterization of the films, using an ellipsometer built by the Physics department, is used to further study the Liquid Crystal films.