Preparation of copper sulphide clusters in organic–inorganic composites of Langmuir–Blodgett films of amphiphilic Schiff bases

Copper sulphide clusters were prepared in Langmuir–Blodgett films of copper complexes of amphiphilic Schiff bases-3,4-dimethoxy-N-benzylidene hexadeylamine (I) and 3,4-dimethoxy-N-benzylidene-4´-(hexadecylamino) benzylamine (II) The clusters obtained were analysed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and optical microscopy. Brewster angle microscopic studies on monolayers of I and II at air/water interface showed formation of needle-like domains which seem to cluster faster in I than in II. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies also showed fairly uniform sized clusters in II whereas in the case of I they seem to show varying sizes. From the results it is concluded that p-elongation in the polar head groups leads to controlled cluster sizes in compound II as compared to those in compound I.