The composite phthalocyanine-based Langmuir-Blodgett films: structural peculiarities and NO-sensitive properties

Surface pressure versus area per molecule isotherms of the Langmuir monolayers of copper tetra-tert-butyl phthalocyanine (abbreviated as CuTTBPc), arachidic acid (abbreviated as AA), and their mixtures were measured depending upon the film component ratio and ionic content of the subphase. Substantial deviations of the mixed monolayer behaviour from an ideal one, which is characteristic of fully immiscible compounds forming separate surface domains on the liquid subphase, were observed if the molar fraction of AA in mixed monolayers exceeded 50%. This abnormality in the monolayer behaviour correlated with the drastic changes in the kinetics responses to NO gas of the sensors based on the mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. The comparison and analysis of the results obtained suggest that the gas-sensitive properties of the two-component LB films are determined by two features of their structure, namely, hole-like defects existing in the AA matrix and interlayer cavities. The corresponding structure model of the mixed films is proposed. The results obtained may be useful for understanding the gas-sensitive mechanism of the composite phthalocyanine-based LB films. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.