Development of Organized Monomolecular Layer Assemblies

Abstract

Methods are described to assemble molecules of different kinds into organized systems where individual molecules cooperate forming functional units. The aim of constructing organized assemblies is to study new types of phenomena that depend on the molecular organization, to develop arrangements of potential technological interest (high density information storage and processing, energy conversion), and to construct adequate models for simulating processes in complex biological structures. In order to approach this goal films of the thickness of one molecule are superimposed upon each other in various ways. The resulting assemblies of molecules can be applied to the study of complex photochemical reactions, e. g. the investigation of the mechanism of the spectral sensitization of the photographic process. Energy and electron transfer processes can be systematically analyzed since the geometry of the interacting molecules can be varied in a controlled manner. Systems can be constructed where independent reactions are coupled in complex ways.