The effect of different metal cation incorporation in arachidic acid Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer films

Abstract

In the present communication one monolayer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of cadmium arachidate (CdA), lead arachidate (PbA), calcium arachidate (CaA), zinc arachidate (ZnA) and barium arachidate (BaA) have been investigated using core level loss spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS). The core level loss spectra and electron energy loss spectra of all the films were largely similar. This has been attributed to the similarity of the band structure of these films, which depends on the hydrocarbon chains rather than the cation incorporated. The NEXAFS spectra show a large angular dependence for the PbA film and barely any angular dependence for BaA. A possible explanation for this observation has been offered on the basis of electronegativities of the cations.