Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2289/3909
Title: Discotic Mesogen - DNA complex films at interfaces
Authors: Suresh, K.A.
Nayak, Alpana
Keywords: current-sensing AFM
langmuir-Blodgett films
mesogen - DNA complex
nanoscale electrical conductivity
Issue Date: 8-Sep-2009
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Citation: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, 2009, Vol.512, p57-80
Abstract: In this article, we review our studies on discotic mesogen - DNA complex films at interfaces. Discotic molecules are known to form highly anisotropic structures at the air-water (A-W) interface. We have studied films of a novel ionic discotic mesogenic molecule, pyridinium salt tethered with hexaalkoxytriphenylene (PyTp) and its complex with DNA (PyTp-DNA) at A-W and air-solid interfaces. The PyTp monolayer was formed on the aqueous subphase containing small amount of DNA. The electrostatic interaction between PyTp and DNA molecules results in a PyTp-DNA complex monolayer. Compared to the pure PyTp monolayer, the PyTp-DNA complex monolayer exhibits higher collapse pressure and lower limiting area. Surface manometry and Brewster angle microscope studies of the PyTp-DNA complex monolayer film indicate the molecules to be in the edge-on configuration. With increase in surface pressure, the complex monolayer undergoes a transition from a loosely packed monolayer phase to a compactly packed monolayer phase. The PyTp-DNA complex films on silicon wafers were prepared using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. We find that several tens of layers of PyTp-DNA complex monolayer can be transferred with good efficiency. We have carried out nanoscale electrical conductivity measurements for the pure PyTp and PyTp-DNA complex LB films using current sensing atomic force microscope. We have studied the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics for the metal-LB film-metal junction and our analysis shows that the I-V curves followed the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling model.
Description: Restricted Access.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2289/3909
ISSN: 1563-5287 (Online)
1542-1406
Alternative Location: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15421400903050459
Copyright: 2009 Taylor & Francis
Appears in Collections:Research Papers (SCM)

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