Sorption of dimethyl methylphosphonate within Langmuir-Blodgett films of trisilanolphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.

Trisilanolphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecules are used to create well-ordered Langmuir-Blodgett films containing silanol groups that interact strongly with dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a commonly used simulant for the chemical warfare agent sarin. The interaction of DMMP within multilayer POSS films is studied by uptake coefficient and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) measurements, as well as reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS). Results indicate a low uptake probability; however, in a DMMP-saturated atmosphere, the organophosphonate molecules are capable of diffusing into and adsorbing within the films. TPD and RAIRS measurements reveal no evidence of DMMP decomposition within the film. Rather, DMMP is found to desorb molecularly with a desorption energy of 122 kJ/mol. RAIRS reveals that strong hydrogen-bonding interactions between the phosphoryl groups of the organophosphonate molecules and the silanol groups of the POSS molecules are responsible for the high sorption energy of the system.

Nanoscale surface patterns from 10(3) single molecule helices of biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid).

Atomic force microscopy, reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray reflectivity studies reveal that poly(L-lactic acid) molecules in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films exist as 10(3) helices over nearly the entire length of the polymer chain. This feature gives rise to LB films with highly ordered nanoscale smectic liquid crystalline-like surface patterns with low surface roughness and lamellar spacings that scale with molar mass. These studies provide a new approach for controlling surface morphology with a biodegradable polymer commonly used for drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Corner capping of silsesquioxane cages by chemical warfare agent simulants.

The room-temperature uptake and reactivity of gas-phase methyl dichlorophosphate (MDCP) and trichlorophosphate (TCP) within trisilanolphenyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) Langmuir-Blodgett films are investigated. The halogenated phosphate molecules are found to readily diffuse into and react with the hybrid inorganic-organic silicon-oxide films under ambient conditions. Reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) measurements suggest that the chlorophosphates undergo hydrolysis with the silanol groups of the POSS LB-film. Substitution and elimination reactions appear to cap the corner of the POSS molecules, leaving a surface-bound phosphoryl group and a resulting structure that is highly stable at elevated temperatures.