Method and system for langmuir-blodgett assembly

Abstract

This invention relates to method and system for forming a film. The method including providing a trough containing water defining an air-water interface between air and the water; providing a solution containing a material of interest; and electrospraying the solution onto the air-water interface of water to form a film of the material of interest at the air-water interface. The system includes a trough containing water defining an air-water interface between air and the water; and means for spreading a solution containing a material of interest onto the air-water interface of water by electrospray, to form a film of the material of interest at the air-water interface. The spreading means comprises an electrospraying device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for forming a film, comprising:
 providing a trough containing water defining an air-water interface between air and the water;   providing a solution containing a material of interest; and   electrospraying the solution onto the air-water interface of water to form a film of the material of interest at the air-water interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution contains a dispersion of the material of interest in water, a water-miscible solvent, or a mixture of them. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution contains a stock solution of the material of interest. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the stock solution contains a water-miscible solvent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the stock solution of the material of interest is devoid of a surface medication or a solvent exchange. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the solution further contains a water-miscible solvent added into the stock solution of the material of interest in water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution contains an aqueous colloidal dispersion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material of interest comprises Au/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) particles, polystyrene (PS) beads, polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers, graphene oxide (GO) sheets, nanoparticles of other materials, or biological colloids. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the film is of a monolayer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring the film to a solid substrate. 
     
     
         11 . An article comprising the film formed according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A method for forming a film, comprising:
 providing a solution containing a material of interest; and   spreading the solution onto an air-water interface of water, without producing air flow to disturb the air-water interface, to form a film of the material of interest at the air-water interface.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spreading step comprises nebulizing the solution. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spreading step is performed with electrospraying. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the solution contains a dispersion of the material of interest in water, a water-miscible solvent, or a mixture of them. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the solution contains a stock solution of the material of interest. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the stock solution contains a water-miscible solvent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stock solution of the material of interest is devoid of a surface medication or a solvent exchange. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the solution further contains a water-miscible solvent added into the stock solution of the material of interest in water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the solution contains an aqueous colloidal dispersion. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the material of interest comprises Au/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) particles, polystyrene (PS) beads, polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers, graphene oxide (GO) sheets, nanoparticles of other materials, or biological colloids. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the film is of a monolayer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising transferring the film to a solid substrate. 
     
     
         24 . An article comprising the film formed according to the method of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         25 . A system for forming a film, comprising:
 a trough containing water defining an air-water interface between air and the water; and   means for spreading a solution containing a material of interest onto the air-water interface of water, without producing air flow to disturb the air-water interface, to form a film of the material of interest at the air-water interface.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the spreading means comprises an electrospraying device. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein an electrospraying device comprises a syringe, connected to a syringe pump to control a flow rate of the solution, having a needle connected to a power supply, and operably positioned above the air-water interface. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising a grounding wire submerged in a water subphase. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the solution contains a dispersion of the material of interest in water, a water-miscible solvent, or a mixture of them. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the solution contains a stock solution of the material of interest. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the stock solution contains a water-miscible solvent. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the stock solution of the material of interest is devoid of a surface medication or a solvent exchange. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the solution further contains a water-miscible solvent added into the stock solution of the material of interest in water. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the solution contains aqueous colloidal dispersions. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the material of interest comprises Au/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) particles, polystyrene (PS) beads, polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers, graphene oxide (GO) sheets, nanoparticles of other materials, or biological colloids. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the film is of a monolayer.