Langmuir Blodgett multilayers and related nanostructures

S S MAJOR¹, S S TALWAR¹ and R S SRINIVASA²

¹Department of Physics; ²Department of Metallurgical Engineering and

Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400 076, India

E-mail: syed@phy.iitb.ac.in

Abstract. Langmuir Blodgett (LB) process is an important route to the development of

organized molecular layered structures of a variety of organic molecules with suitably designed

architecture and functionality. LB multilayers have also been used as templates and precursors to

develop nano-structured thin films. In this article, studies on the molecular packing and three-dimensional

structure of prototypic cadmium arachidate (CdA), zinc arachidate (ZnA) and mixed CdA--ZnA LB

multilayers are presented. The formation of semiconducting nano-clusters of CdS, ZnS and Cd$_x$Zn$_{1-x}$S alloys within the organic multilayer matrix, using arachidate LB multilayers as precursors is also discussed.

Keywords. Langmuir Blodgett; multilayers; II--VI semiconductors; nanoclusters.

PACS Nos 68.47.Pe; 81.07.-b; 78.66.Hf