Domain structures of phospholipid monolayer Langmuir-Blodgett films determined by atomic force microscopy

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been used to show the formation of solid-phase domains from fluid-phase domains on compression of DiPalmitoyl-PhosphatidylCholine (DPPC) monolayer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. The chiral structures on the solid substrates were observed for the first time. By applying the friction force technique, we were able to distinguish the different regions of LB films according to their elastic properties. The influence of rates of compression on the domain shape as well as the microstructure within the domain were also studied.