Mechanical Properties of Organic-Inorganic Composite Films : Comparing the Impacts of Flexible vs. Rigid Organic Components

Abstract

A series of organic-inorganic composite films composed of close-packed, alkanethiol-capped gold nanoparticles and rigid, aromatic dithiol crosslinking molecules were assembled upon the air-water interface within a Langmuir trough. The mechanical properties of films were assessed by the Langmuir isotherm, yielding measurements of minimum collapse pressures and structural responses to collapse. The results of this study address the individual roles of nanoscale materials components, further enabling the rational design of nanoarchitectures with specific chemical, physical, and mechanical properties.