High-sensitivity measurement of LB membrane
Initially, this measurement method was used for analysis of LB membranes. Here, we will introduce an example in which 1/4 molecule of Cu porphine was added to the araquinic acid molecule, the LB membrane prepared by trough is pulled up and coated on the waveguide, and measured by Optical Waveguide spectrometer. Fig.1 is an image of the LB membrane coated on the waveguide.

Fig.1 Coating of LB membrane on waveguide

Fig.2 Comparison of LB membrane spectrum measured by Optical Waveguide Spectroscopy method and transmission method
Despite measuring the exact same sample, you can see how the waveguide method is highly sensitive compared with the conventional transmission method.
Papers on measurement of LB membrane
Slab-Optical-Waveguide Absorption Spectroscopy
- “Aof Langmuir-Blodgett Films with a White Light Excitation Source” Kenji Kato, Akiko Takatsu, Naoki Matsuda, Reiko Azumi and Mutsuyoshi Matsumoto, Chem. Lett., 437 (1995).
- “In Situ Monitoring of Photo-Cross-Linking Reaction of Anthracene Chromophores in Polymer Langmuir-Blodgett Films by an Integrated Optical Waveguide Technique” Masaya Mitsuishi, Tomohiro Tanuma, Jun Matsui, Jinfeng Chen and Tokuji Miyashita, Langmuir, 17, 24, 7449 (2001).
- “Optical Waveguide Spectrometry of Acridine Orange in Monolayer and Langmuir-Blodgett Film” Hiroyuki Ohno, Satoshi Yoneyama, Fumio Nakamura, Kyoko Fukuda, Masahiko Hara and Masatsugu Shimomura, Langmuir, 18, 5, 1661 (2002).
In addition, achievements have been reported for nanosheets as well as LB membranes.
- “Controlled Photoisomerization of Azobenzene Chromophores in the Nucleoamphiphile Monolayers by Base-pairing with Template DNA” Kuniharu Ijiro, Jin Matsumoto, Mitsuhiko Morisue and Masatsugu Shimomura, Asia Nano 2002 proceedings, 125 (2002).
- “Molecular orientation of azobenzene chromophores in ultrathin polymer nanosheets studied by attenuated total reflection spectroscopy” Masaya Mitsuishi, Tomohiro Tanuma, Jun Matsui, Tokuji Miyashita, Talanta, 65, 1091 (2005).