Growth of oriented crystals at polymerized membranes

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said diacetylene self-assembling monomers are selected from the group consisting of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid, 5,7-pentacosadiynoic acid, sulfate-derivatized 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid, sulfate-derivatized 5,7-pentacosadiynoic acid, and combinations thereof.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein said self-assembling monomers contain head groups selected from the group consisting of --COOH, --CH 2 OH, --CH 2 OCONHPh, --CH 2 OCONEt, --CH 2 CH(Et)OCONHPh, --(CH 2 ) 9 OH, --CH 2 OCOPh, --CH 2 OCHONHMe, --CH 2 OTs, --CH(OH)Me, --CH 2 OCOR 2 , wherein R 2 is n-CH 5 H 11 , n-C 7 H 15 , n-C 9 H 19 , n-C 11 H 23 , n-C 13 H 27 , n-C 15 H 31 , n-C 17 H 35 , Ph, PhO, or o-(HO 2 C)C 6 H 4 , --OSO 2 R 2 , wherein R 2 is Ph, p-MeC 6 H 4 , p-FC 6 H 4 , p-CIC 6 H 4 , pBrC 6 H 4 , p-MeOC 6 H 4 , m-CF 3 C 6 H 4 , 2-C 10 H7, or Me--CO 2 M, wherein M is K, H, or B a/2, --CH 2 OCONHR 2 or --CH 2 CONHR 2 where R 2 is Et, n-Bu, n-C 6 H 13 , n-C 8 H 17 , n-C 12 H 25 , cyclo C 6 H 11 , Ph, p-MeC 6 H 4 , m-MeC 6 H 4 , o-CIC 6 H 4 , m-CIC 6 H 4 , p-CIC 6 H 4 , o-MeOC 6 H 4 , 3-Thienyl, Me, Et, Ph, 1-C 10 H 7 , Et, Ph, EtOCOCH 2 , BuOCOCH 2 , Me, Et, i-Pr, n-C 6 H 13 , EtOCOCH 2 , BuOCOCH 2 , Ph, 2,4(NO 2 ) 2 C 6 H 3 OCH 2 , and CH 2 CH 2 OH.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said mineral source comprises a supersaturated solution of dissolved mineral.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4, wherein said dissolved mineral is solubilized in aqueous solution.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein said mineral source is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, iron oxide, manganese oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, tin oxide, aluminum oxide, lead sulfide, titanium oxide, indium phosphate, calcium phosphate, hydroxy apatite, mercury sulfide, tungsten oxide, nanocrystalline gold, nanocrystalline silver, nanocrystalline platinum, carbon nanotubes, boron nanotubes, C 60 buckeyballs, and C 70 buckeyballs.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1, wherein said formation support comprises a Langmuir-Blodgett trough.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: f) providing a solid support; and g) transferring said template film to said solid support following said polymerizing step but before introducing said mineral source.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8, wherein said solid support comprises a hydrophobized, horizontal support.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1, wherein said film is compressed into a monolayer having a surface tension range of approximately twenty to forty millinewtons per meter prior to said polymerizing.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1, wherein said polymerization means is selected from the group consisting of UV-irradiation, gamma irradiation, X-ray irradiation, and electron beam exposure.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1, wherein said introducing said mineral source to said template film comprises placing an aliquot of said mineral source onto said template film.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a solvent and an etched film support.

Claim 15

The method of claim 13, wherein in said step c) said polymerizing produces an etched film, and further comprising steps: h) washing said etched film with said solvent after said polymerizing but before said introduction of said mineral source; and i) transferring said etched film to said etched film support after said washing but before said introduction of said mineral source.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13, wherein said etched film support comprises a semiconducting or metallic substrate.

Claim 17

The method claim 15, wherein said semiconducting or metallic substrate is selected from the group consisting of gold, titanium oxide, and gallium arsenate.

Claim 18

Aligned crystals produced according to the methods of claim 13.

Claim 19

Aligned crystals produced according to the methods of claim 1.

Claim 22

The method of claim 19, wherein said template film comprises self-assembling monomers selected from the group consisting of diacetylenes, acetylenes, alkenes, thiophenes, imides, acrylamides, methacrylates, vinylether, malic anhydride, urethanes, allylamines, siloxanes anilines, pyrroles, vinylpyridinium.

Claim 23

The method of claim 20, wherein said diacetylenes are selected from the group consisting of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid, 5,7-pentacosadiynoic acid, sulfate-derivatized 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid, sulfate-derivatized 5,7-pentacosadiynoic acid, and combinations thereof.

Claim 24

The method of claim 20, wherein said self-assembling monomers contain head groups selected from the group consisting of --COOH, --CH 2 OH, --CH 2 OCONHPh, --CH 2 OCONEt, --CH 2 CH(Et)OCONHPh, --CH 2 ) 9 OH, --CH 2 OCOPh, --CH 2 OCHONHMe, --CH 2 OTs, --CH(OH)Me, --CH 2 OCOR 2 , wherein R 2 is n-CH 5 H 11 , n-C 7 H 15 , n-C 9 H 19 , n-C 11 H 23 , n-C 13 H 27 , n-C 15 H 31 , n-C 17 H 35 , Ph, PhO, or o-(HO 2 C)C 6 H 4 , --OSO 2 R 2 , wherein R 2 is Ph, P-MeC 6 H 4 , p-FC 6 H 4 , p-CIC 6 H 4 , pBrC 6 H 4 , p-MeOC 6 H 4 , m-CF 3 C 6 H 4 , 2-C 10 H7, or Me--CO 2 M, wherein M is K, H, or B a/2, --CH 2 OCONHR 2 or --CH 2 CONHR 2 where R 2 is Et, n-Bu, n-C 6 H 13 , n-C 8 H 17 , n-C 12 H 25 , cyclo C 6 H 11 , Ph, p-MeC 6 H 4 , m-MeC 6 H 4 , o-CIC 6 H 4 , m-CIC 6 H 4 , p-CIC 6 H 4 , o-MeOC 6 H 4 , 3-Thienyl, Me, Et, Ph, 1-C 10 H 7 , Et, Ph, EtOCOCH 2 , BuOCOCH 2 , Me, Et, i-Pr, n-C 6 H 13 , EtOCOCH 2 , BuOCOCH 2 , Ph, 2,4(NO 2 ) 2 C 6 H 3 OCH 2 , or CH 2 CH 2 OH.

Claim 25

The method of claim 19, wherein said mineral source comprises a supersaturated solution of dissolved mineral.

Claim 26

The method of claim 19, wherein said dissolved mineral is solubilized in aqueous solution.

Claim 27

The method of claim 19, wherein said mineral source is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, iron oxide, manganese oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, tin oxide, aluminum oxide, lead sulfide, titanium oxide, indium phosphate, calcium phosphate, hydroxy apatite, mercury sulfide, tungsten oxide, nanocrystalline gold, nanocrystalline silver, nanocrystalline platinum, carbon nanotubes, boron nanotubes, C 60 buckeybalss, and C 70 buckeyballs.

Claim 28

The method of claim 19, wherein said polymerization means is selected from the group consisting of UV-irradiation, gamma irradiation, X-ray irradiation, and electron beam exposure.

Claim 29

The method of claim 19, wherein said introducing said mineral source to said template film comprises placing an aliquot of said mineral source onto said template film.

Claim 30

The method of claim 19, wherein said solid support comprises a semiconducting or metallic substrate.

Claim 31

The method of claim 28, wherein said semiconducting or metallic substrate is selected from a group consisting of gold, titanium oxide, and gallium arsenate.

Claim 32

The method of claim 19, wherein said energetic beam emitter emits beams selected from the group consisting of ion beams and electron beams.

Claim 33

The method of claim 19, wherein said film is compressed prior to said etching.

Claim 34

Aligned crystals produced according to the methods of claim 18.

Claim 35

A composition comprising totally aligned crystals on polymerized film.

Claim 36

A composition comprising totally aligned crystals on polymerized film.

Claim 37

The composition of claim 33, whereby said totally aligned crystals are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, iron oxide, manganese oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, tin oxide, aluminum oxide, lead sulfide, titanium oxide, indium phosphate, calcium phosphate, hydroxy apatite, mercury sulfide, tungsten oxide, nanocrystalline gold, nanocrystalline silver, nanocrystalline platinum, carbon nanotubes, boron nanotubes, C 60 buckeyballs, and C 70 buckeyballs.

Claim 40

The method of claim 35, wherein said self-assembling monomers are selected from the group consisting of diacetylenes, acetylenes, alkenes, thiophenes, imides, acrylamides, methacrylates, vinyether, malic anhydride, urethanes, allylamines, siloxanes anilines, pyrroles, and vinylpyridinium.

Claim 41

The method of claim 36, wherein said diacetylenes are selected from a group consisting of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid, 5,7-pentacosadiynoic acid, sulfate-derivatized 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid, sulfate-derivatized 5,7-pentacosadiynoic acid, and combinations thereof.

Claim 42

The method of claim 35, wherein said mineral source is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, iron oxide, manganese oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, tin oxide, aluminum oxide, lead sulfide, titanium oxide, indium phosphate, calcium phosphate, hydroxy apatite, mercury sulfide, tungsten oxide, nanocrystalline gold, nanocrystalline silver, nanocrystalline platinum, carbon nanotubes, boron nanotubes, C 60 buckeyballs, and C 70 buckeyballs.