Controlling the molecular organization of porphyrins by hosting in amphiphilic matrix

Abstract

Mixed films containing ionic water-soluble or -insoluble porphyrins and amphiphilic anchors have been prepared at the air/water interface and on solid support (Langmuir-Blodgett, LB). Their molecular organization has been controlled by different strategies. Monomer, twisted dimer and slipped dimers, and tetramer patterns have been organized at those interfaces as a function of the central metal ion of water-soluble porphyrins, the lipid host-matrix and the applied surface pressure. In addition, stable monomolecular or tri-layers are possible to fabricate. Moreover, for water-insoluble porphyrins, dilution by increasing molar ratio of the amphiphilic matrix in mixed films facilitates the disaggregation, i.e. the monomer porphyrin moieties increases. As a result, the response to the presence of the toxic gas, i.e. the speed of the response and recovery phases, the temperature and concentration ranges has been notably enhanced.