Kraack, H.Ocko, B. M.Pershan, PeterSloutskin, E.Deutsch, M.2013-02-282002Kraack, H., B. M. Ocko, Peter S. Pershan, E. Sloutskin, and M. Deutsch. 2002. Structure of a Langmuir film on a liquid metal surface. Science 298(5597): 1404-1407.0036-8075http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10356594The structure of organic monolayers on liquid surfaces depends sensitively on the details of the molecular interactions. The structure of a stearic acid film on a mercury surface was measured as a function of coverage with angstrom resolution. Unlike monolayers on water, the molecules were found here to undergo a transition from surface-parallel to surface-normal orientation with increasing coverage. At high coverage, two condensed hexatic phases of standing-up molecules were found. At low coverage, a two-dimensional (2D) gas phase and condensed single- and double-layered phases of flat-lying molecular dimers were revealed, exhibiting a 1D longitudinal positional order. This system should provide a broader tunability range for nanostructure construction than solid-supported self-assembled monolayers.en-USJournal Article10.1126/science.1078372