Effect of thickness and monolayer location on thermostability of metal stearate LB films studied by FT-IR reflection—absorption spectroscopy

LB films of Cd and Ca stearates with 1, 3, 9, and 21 monolayers were fabricated on silver-coated glass slides. 9-Monolayer LB films of Cd and Ca salts of deuterated stearic acid, in which the 1st, 5th, or 9th layer was replaced by 1 monolayer of undeuterated analogues, were also prepared on the above substrates. Temperature dependences of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) reflection—absorption (RA) spectra were examined for these LB films in the range 31–140°C. At room temperature, the hydrocarbon chains in these LB films were in a well-ordered state with a high degree of perpendicular orientation to the substrate. However, they became disordered at elevated temperatures. These order-disorder phase transition temperatures were dependent on the film thickness, to a small degree in the Cd stearate LB film (102–108°C), but to a large degree in the Ca stearate LB film (103–129°C). In the latter LB film, the effect of dehydration was inferred. The degree of disorder at high temperatures was dependent on the film thickness and the location of monolayer in the 9-monolayer LB films. This result is discussed in terms of the internal pressure within the LB film.