Langmuir-Blodgett films of a Mo-blue nanoring [Mo142O429H10(H2O)49(CH3CO2)5(CH3CH2CO2)]30- (Mo142) by the semiamphiphilic method

Langmuir monolayers and LB films of the ring-shaped mixed-valence polyoxomolybdate [Mo142O429H10(H2O)(49)(CH3CO2)(5)(CH3CH2CO2)](30-) (Mo-142) dissolved in the aqueous subphase have been successfully fabricated by using the adsorption properties of a DODA monolayer. Infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy of the LB films indicates that Mo-142 and DODA molecules are incorporated within these LB films. X-ray reflectivity experiments indicate that the LB films exhibit a well-defined lamellar structure formed by bilayers of DODA molecules alternating with monolayers of Mo-142. Using behenic acid-modified hydrophobic quartz substrate is critical for the formation of the well-defined lamellar structure. From the values of the periodicity obtained by these experiments it is clear that the Mo-142 clusters lie flat along the charged organic layers. AFM images also showed the flat and homogeneous films on the quartz substrates treated with behenic acid. Cyclic voltammograms of Mo-142-LB films deposited on ITO substrates showed quasi-reversible oxidation/reduction waves with positive shift of the potential compared to the case of solution.