Anisotropy in Langmuir monolayers supported by flowing water

Abstract
A recently designed Langmuir trough using a steady-laminar flowing subphase is exploited to support polymer monolayers. Atomic-force-microscopy observation of the polymer monolayer deposited on a graphite plate by a horizontal method reveals that the polymer chains are elongated and aligned in the flow direction, which can be understood from a hydrodynamic point of view.