Morphological transcription of monolayer domains to aggregates: specific adsorption of cyanine dyes to pre-compressed chiral monolayers

Monolayer characteristics of chiral amphiphiles at the air–water interface are studied by the use of fluorescence microscopy. Presence of less-hydrated halide anions and anionic cyanine dye in the subphase exerted remarkable influence on the π-A isotherms and fluorescence images of ammonium monolayers. Chiral domain structures observed on pure water were transcribed to that of cyanine dye aggregates, when they were adsorbed to pre-compressed monolayers. Specific binding of cyanine dyes to crystalline domains was required for the morphological transcription process.