Beyond the hemicylindrical micellar monolayer on graphite: AFM evidence for a lyotropic liquid crystal film

Micellar assemblies orient at graphite surfaces in the same way at the channels in mesoporous silica films. Evidence to suggest that the structural organization of the surfactant surface phase extends far beyond the hemicylindrical micellar monolayer located at teh water‒traphite interface is presented and details of the proposed assembly process given. An understanding of the origin of the coalignment between silica channels and graphite surface structures is the goal if this investigation, important for the design of mesoporous films and membranes with predetermined architectures.