Two dimensional aggregation behaviors of quinoxaline dendrimers

This study focuses on the molecular behavior of two dendrimers containing a hydrophilic core group (carboxyl group) and hydrophobic branches (quinoxaline and methoxyphenyl groups), 2,3-bis(4-(2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)quinoxalin-6-yloxy)phenyl)quinoxaline-6-carb-oxylic acid (G2) and 2,3-bis(4-(2,3-bis(4-(2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)quinoxalin-6-yloxy)phe-nyl)quinoxalin-6-yl-oxy)phenyl) quin oxaline-6-carboxylic acid (G3) at the air-water interface. To understand the mechanism of the self-assembly of these molecules, we measured the surface pressure-area (n - A) isotherm and investigated the surface morphology of Langmuir-Blodgett films transferred onto hydrophilic silicon wafers using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Upon compression, G2 molecules stand up and steadily make close-packed monolayer whereas G3 molecules form circular domains and gradually make aggregates of domains. These results were confirmed by the X-ray Reflectivity (XRR) profiles of G2 and G3 monolayers transferred onto silicon substrates.