Electrical properties of polymerized, planar, bimolecular membranes

Electrical measurements have been made on bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) made from four different polymerizable surfactants. Polymerization leads to a stabiliza- tion of the membrane. Membranes polymerized near the polar head of the surfactant are stabilized less than those polymerized in the tail. The duration and mechanism of rupture are dependent on the spreading solvent, as well as on the surfactant itself.