摘要 |
An ultra-thin, self-assembling molecular film has ordered amphiphilic molecules that are oriented relative to one another in two directions. The film is made by delivering a substantially continuous curtain of film-forming solution containing amphiphilic molecules to a surface of an aqueous liquid, confining the film-forming solution against movement in all but one direction along the said surface, whereby the film-forming solution solidifies into a self-assembling molecular fluid membrane in which the molecules are ordered and arranged in aligned units that are themselves oriented relative to one another in two directions generally parallel to the said surface. Apparatus for carrying out this method comprises liquid-holding means (A) for holding an aqueous liquid having a liquid surface and on which a film-forming solution containing amphiphilic molecules is solidifiable, the said liquid-holding means (A) having side boundaries (14, 16) at opposite ends of a width dimension extending substantially perpendicular to a film-forming direction, and delivery means (B) for delivering a film-forming solution containing amphiphilic molecules to the liquid-holding means (A) in a substantially continuous thin stream extending substantially continuously across the said width dimension, whereby the solution floats in an aqueous liquid held by the liquid-holding means (A) and solidifies into the desired film. The film may be applied directly to a substrate as it is produced. |