Ordered organic multilayers

Abstract

Over the last two decades there has been increasing interest in the formation of ordered organic multilayers by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique, by self-assembly, by evaporation of amphiphilic materials in vacuo and by various other methods. A variety of applications of such films has been proposed and many model devices constructed.

This article reviews the various techniques which can be used to form ordered multilayers and the methods which can be used to characterise the degree of order obtained. Possible applications are only touched on lightly as this aspect of the subject has received considerable attention elsewhere.

The author gives a personal view of likely developments in the light of recent work published up to the end of the year 1994.