Molecular arrangement of alkylated fullerenes in the liquid crystalline phase studied with X-ray diffraction.

Fullerenes (C(60)) with attached aliphatic chains are shown to form fluid bilayer structures that are distinguished by very characteristic and well-resolved X-ray diffraction patterns. Since, in addition, we vary systematically the number and length of the chains, detailed understanding of the structures can be achieved. To make the analysis transparent, simple boxlike electronic density profile models are proposed to explain the relative intensity of the several Bragg peaks present in the X-ray patterns. The models allow detailed characterization of the molecular organization. The molecules arrange themselves in bilayers with their long axis on average perpendicular to the plane of the layers. Considering the bilayers composed of three sections with different electronic density, the C(60) heads occupy a fixed length of approximately 17 A, corresponding to almost no interdigitation, the connector section around 4 A, and the carbon chains' perpendicular length depends on the number and length of the chains. The analysis reveals that reducing the number of carbons per chain (from 20 to 16) results in a shorter unit cell, while reducing the number of chains (from 3 to 2) results in a shorter but also slightly thinner unit cell, in agreement with known molecular packing volumes.

Quantitative analysis of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy images of gas-filled PVA-based microballoons.

We report on the quantitative analysis of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) images of gas-filled, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based microballoons (MB) in a water environment. A model for the transmitted intensity is proposed on the basis of a perfect spherical shell stabilizing the microballoon. An extension of this model to take into account the deformation of the MBs is also presented. Taking into consideration a density gradient of the shell and the STXM resolution, we were able to explain very precisely two types of experimental STXM profiles observed on gas-filled MBs. This enables the detailed characterization of MB properties such as radius and wall thickness and the determination of their wall density with unprecedented high resolution.