The Multi-Compartment LB Deposition Trough has two separated subphase compartments. The long and thin shape of this trough still gives sufficiently high compression ratios when working in the conventional manner in just one of these compartments. The subphase area of each compartment is 22.4x10cm giving a monolayer containment area of 190cm2.
Having two compartments allows for two different subphase solutions to be used and implemented at a chosen time during the monolayer investigation. The independently controlled barriers can perform the usual cyclic compression, isotherm and surface pressure control functions in either compartment of the trough. The barriers can also slide a compressed film over the separating wall, into the other compartment of the trough, introducing the monolayer to a new subphase solution. All this is done while maintaining a constant monolayer area.
The surface pressure sensor can be mounted on to the drive belt of one of the compression barriers so that during the monolayer sliding process, the surface pressure sensor remains in the centre of the monolayer. During compression of the monolayer, the surface pressure sensor is dismounted from the drive belt so that it sits at the centre of the symmetrically compressed film.
In one of the compartments there is a dipping well (dimensions 28mm diameter, 32mm depth) and a 40mm stroke LB deposition mechanism for transferring monolayers onto substrates.
In the other compartment is a sapphire UV-Visible transmission window for Microscopy and UV-Visible Absorbance Spectroscopy.
Each compartment may be used in isolation, with symmetric compression towards a centrally positioned surface pressure sensor.
When slightly overfilled, the Multi-Compartment LB Deposition Trough can be used as a large, single compartment Langmuir Trough with a subphase area of 45x10cm and a monolayer confinement area of 415cm2. Please note that during this mode of operation, the dipping mechanism and sapphire window, each being fixed a quarter of the way in from each end of the trough, may not be used during symmetric barrier compression mode but can be used in single barrier compression mode.
This particular trough opens up many possibilities for experiments that would not be possible on any other Langmuir or LB Deposition Trough.
