VISUALIZATION OF 2-DIMENSIONAL CRYSTAL-GROWTH IN A MONOLAYER OF STEARIC-ACID ON THE ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC SCALE

Visualization of two-dimensional crystal growth in a monolayer of stearic acid was attempted by using a new replica technique coupled with transmission electron microscopy. A monolayer of stearic acid prepared on the surface of distilled water (pH 5.8) was deposited onto a gold-covered glass plate under a constant surface pressure controlled at 30.0 mNm-1. Preparation and deposition of the monolayer were conducted at 21 +/- 0.5-degrees-C. No significant film structural defects could be visualized in a replica image of the monolayer on the electron microscopic scale. When the monolayer preparation was conducted at 21 +/- 0.5-degrees-C and the aqueous subphase temperature was lowered to 19 +/- 0.5-degrees-C, the two-dimensional crystal growth was electron microscopically visualized.