Formation of Silver Islands on Langmuir-Blodgett Films as Investigated by X-ray Reflectometry

Abstract

Silver overlayers on Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of cadmium arachidate (CdA), a substituted polyglutamate (PG), and a polymeric phthalocyanine derivative (PCPS) were studied by X-ray reflectometry. From fits to the measured reflectivity curves electron density profiles are obtained for the films with and without silver overlayers. The initial sticking ratios of silver on CdA, PG, and PCPS are 0.37, 0.72, and 0.93, respectively. The deposited silver forms islands on top of the multilayers with a maximum penetration depth into the LB films of one to two monolayers only depending on the material of the film.