Molecular Conformation and Application of Stereoregular PMMA Langmuir-Blodgett Films

Molecular conformations of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) monolayers have been investigated by scanning probe microscopes. Isotactic and syndiotactic PMMAs were found to have right and left hand helical structures, respectively. On the contrary atactic PMMA showed rather random arrangement of the chains. It has been demonstrated that the PMMA Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films can be utilized to form nanoscale patterns down to 50 nm and to form a geodesic lens. It has also been manifested that the quantum efficiency of a polymer electroluminescent device can be significantly enhanced by inserting the PMMA LB films between the emitting layer and the cathode. All the applications utilize the unique characteristics of the LB films to form thin and uniform films in the molecular level.