| Abstract
| - In contrast to the long-held belief that only amphiphilic molecules can form stable Langmuir monolayers, weshow here that even nonvolatile hydrophobic oils can be reversibly spread into liquid-condensed Langmuirfilms, if the material is in or close to liquid-crystal phase in the bulk. The stability origin of the hydrophobicLangmuir monolayers is entropic, rather than energetic as in the stabilization of common amphiphilicmonolayers, primarily driven by the interaction between the polar head and water. This extraordinary spreadingmechanism may have impact on the nature of colloidal and biomembrane stabilities.
|
