Fabrication of nano-sized particles of metallic copper and copper sulfide in Langmuir-Blodgett films

Abstract

Langmuir monolayers of arachidic acid on a subphase of 0.3 mM CuSO4/17 mM NH3 were transferred to hydrophobic glass and mica substrates to give Langmuir-Blodgett films of cupric arachidate (CuAr). Transfer ratios of close to 1 were observed and regular `Y'-type deposition was demonstrated with hydrophobic glass. With mica as the substrate, `Z'-type deposition occurred. The films were exposed to H2S and hydrazine, and evidence for the formation of copper sulfide and metallic copper particles, respectively, was obtained by ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy.