Liquid phases of Langmuir monolayers

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Abstract
The liquid phases of Langmuir monolayers are studied in a simple continuum model in which molecules are treated as flexible chains made up of rodlike segments, with the head confined to the air-water interface. The model is studied within mean-field approximation. We show that both properties of chain flexibility and of segment rigidity, with concomitant anisotropic rodlike interactions, are needed to produce two stable liquid phases. Uniform tilt can occur in the liquid-condensed phase, but requires a mismatch between the size of the head segment and that of the others comprising the chain. The chain conformational order, and the effect of chain length on phase behavior, are also discussed.