Stable Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of Fullerene-Glycodendron conjugates

Abstract

The amphiphilic C60-dendrimer conjugates 1 and 2 with one and two glycodendron headgroups, respectively, form stable, ordered monomolecular Langmuir layers at the air - water interface. The bulky glycodendron headgroups in 1 and 2 are very effective in suppressing fullerene aggregation, resulting in reversible compression and expansion behavior. The absence of fullerene aggregation was also revealed by the UV - vis spectra of the Langmuir monolayers and by Brewster angle microscopy. The monolayers of 1 and 2 were transferred successfully as X-type Langmuir - Blodgett films onto quartz slides; such films could have potential applications in optical technology and as biosensors for glycoproteins.