Nanostructuring polymers, colloids, and nanomaterials at the air-water interface through Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett techniques

Nanostructuring macromolecules and nanomaterials at the air-water interface through Langmuir monolayers, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) films has been effectively used to investigate surface chemical/physical properties and achieve well-controlled surface morphologies. In this article, we review research progress and approaches in utilizing specific amphiphilic polymers, π-conjugated polymers, dendrons/dendrimers, metal/semiconductor nanoparticles, and colloidal spheres. Well-designed polymers, colloids, and nanomaterials enable structure-property correlation and observation of new phenomena not previously observed in bulk materials.