Using both vibrational sum-frequency generation and fluorescence microscopy, the phase behaviour of a DPPC lipid monolayer on water is investigated as a function of surface pressure. The vibrational specificity of the sum-frequency generation techniques permits determining the order of the alkyl chains, as well as the average orientation of the terminal methyl group. A novel - and extremely sharp - phase transition is observed at low compression, which is attributed to a curling of the alkyl chains due to increased exposure of the (hydrophobic) alkyl chains to the water surface.
Type
conference paper
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0141828470
Authors
Publication date
2003
Published in
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume
4964
Start page
90
End page
97
Peer reviewed
REVIEWED
EPFL units
Available on Infoscience
February 8, 2013
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