Dewetting of core/ring microstructure in Langmuir–Blodgett films

Self-organized pattern of stearic acid (SA) and Eu(TTA)3Phen in a core/ring microstructure and the dewetting were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Here TTA and Phen denote the β-diketone ligand thenoyltrifluoroacetylacetone and the synergistic ligand 1,10-phenanthroline. The core/ring microstructure obtained at low compression speed could be well kept after transfer to solid substrates and kept in humid surrounding. Otherwise dewetting of the microstructure resulting from the shrinkage of the SA core occurred after 1 h, leading to a gap about 200 nm between the core and ring. This work is helpful for further understanding the stability of self-organized microstructure in Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films with double components.