Langmuir Blodgett Film Deposition & Analysis

The Langmuir film was pioneered by research scientist Irving Langmuir in the early 1900s and initially consisted of a single monolayer on a solid substrate. His research assistant Katherine Blodgett expanded on his work to include the deposition of multi-layer films on solid substrates.

A Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film consists of one or more layers of organic material each one molecule thick that are deposited onto a solid substrate.

Transferring monolayers of organic material from a liquid to a solid substrate allows the structure of the film to be controlled at the molecular level, paving the way for potential applications such as molecular sized integrated circuits where each data bit is the size of a single molecule. LB films can also be used for research applications such as studies into biomembranes (e.g protein and ion interactions), interfacial shear rheology of thin films, functional coatings (e.g. nanotubes, nanowires, graphene), surfactant formulation (e.g. polymerisation, enzyme-substrate reactions) and nanoparticles (e.g. surfactant and colloid stability).

ATA Scientific supplies a range of KSV-NIMA Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett troughs for creating single molecule thick films with precision control over the lateral packing density of molecules. Their unique design allows for simultaneous use of optical characterisation techniques such as Infrared analysis, Brewster angle microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and many others.

At ATA Scientific we sell innovative instruments from leading manufacturers in the particle, surface, life and material sciences. Our suppliers include some of the world’s most well-regarded companies such as Malvern Panalytical, Phenom World, Biolin Scientific, Avestin, Precision Nanosystems, Phasefocus and Logos Biosystems.

Our scientific instruments are used by Universities, the CSIRO and by companies in a range of different industries including the pharmaceutical, polymer, chemical and mining sectors. We also provide our clients with long term support to ensure they get the best out of our products and services. Over the past 27 years, ATA Scientific has provided a range of technical services including operator training, preventative maintenance and instrument breakdown repair.