Ferroelectricity in Amphiphilic Monolayers

Ferroelectricity in Amphiphilic Monolayers by Jacob D. Eccles Submitted to the Department of Physics and Astronomy on April 27, 2007, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Chemical Physics Here we report Langmuir isotherms for various glycolipids and the application of laser optical techniques to characterize compression, molecular tilt, polarization, and ferroelectricity in amphiphilic monolayers. In order to observe those phenomena dependent upon molecular orientation on a macroscopic scale, mono layers were sheared through narrow gaps and subjected to strong electric fields. Furthermore, lasers were aligned at Brewster's angle to increase sensitivity. We find, unfortunately, that either the employed external alignment mechanisms are too weak or that the measurement techniques lack sufficient sensitivity to observe the orientational phenomena under study, and we are unable to definitively interpret our data. We do, however, demonstrate the facility of the laser technique in measuring monolayer density and its correspondence with surface pressure. Thesis Supervisor: Peter J. Collings Title: Professor of Physics