Structure Studies on Ion Coordination in 2,4-Dihydroxy-N-Octadecybenzylideneamine LB Films by UV-Vis Absorption and FTIR Spectroscopy

The coordination reaction of Cu(2+) ions with the Schiff base amphiphile 2,4-dihydroxy-N-octadecylbenzylideneamine in ultrathin organic LB films was probed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission spectroscopy and UV-Vis electronic absorption spectroscopy. FTIR spectral changes owing to LB films of 2,4-dihydroxy-N-octadecylbenzylideneamine contacting aqueous Cu(OAC)(2) solution suggest the formation of ion-coordination films, which is corroborated by UV-Vis absorption spectra. The coordination reaction of the annealing film at different temperatures suggests that the microstructure of LB films had an important effect on the reaction rate. Detailed analysis shows that ion-coordination films take an isotropic unaxial orientation and exhibit phase transition behavior, which is determined by the different complex structures of headgroups and of subphase and surface film. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.