Structure, Organization And Phase Transitions In Anchored Alkyl Chain Bilayers In Layered Organic-Inorganic Hybrids

Abstract

This thesis deals with the conformation and phase-transitions in anchored alkyl chain bilayer assemblies in organic-inorganic hybrids. The alkyl chain bilayers in organic-inorganic hybrids bear a striking resemblances to the lipid bilayers that are an integral part of biomembranes. However, unlike the lipid bilayer where individual lipid molecules can undergo the total absence of translational mobility. The anchored bilayer are, therefore, the simplest model system for understanding the structure, organization and thermal behaviour of alkyl-chain assemblies. The anchored bilayer in the organic-inorganic hybrids also offer the advantage that unlike the lipid bilayers that are essentially fluid like, these are solids and therefore, amenable to study by a variety of solid-state spectroscopic techniques. The objective of the present works was to determine the organization, conformation and thermal behaviour of alkyl chains in these class of materials- the alkyl ammonium layered pervoskites and in zinc soaps of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The preparation, conformation and orientation of alkyl chains assemblies in the layered(CH3CH2)nNH3)2PbI4 is described in chapter 2 and the phase-transitions and associated changes in conformation in presented in chapter 3. In chapter 4 the preparation, structure, conformation and phase-transitions of alkyl chains in the m = 2 member of the layered (CH3NH3)m-1(CH3CH2)nNH3)2PbmI3m+1 Ruddleson-Popper series is discussed. The thermal behavior of zinc soaps of saturated fatty acids is discussed in chapter 5 and formation and phase-transitions in solid solution between saturated zinc soaps of differing chain lengths, zinc stearate and zinc myristate is presented in chapter 6. The effect of a rigid link or double bond on the evolution of conformational disorder and phase-transitions of other-wise flexible hydrocarbon chains is explored in chapter 7 by comparing the thermal behavior of zinc oleate and zine elaidate with that of zinc stearate. A unique feature of the zinc soaps is that they form solid solutions over the entire composition range feature of the zinc soaps is that they form solid solutions over the entire composition range between soaps of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The formation and conformation of alkyl chains in the solid solution of zinc stearate and zinc oleate is discussed in chapter 8.