Formation of interfacial molecular film and metal‐trapping function of azacalixarene‐containing copolymers having spherulite‐forming ability

Abstract

The interfacial molecular film behavior of a newly synthesized copolymer having spherulite‐forming ability and consisting of an azacalixarene moiety and a polyethylene glycol linker was investigated. Furthermore, the ability of the azacalixarene ring in the copolymer Langmuir monolayer to trap metals from the subphase was examined. The copolymer formed a monolayer at the air/water interface with high‐density packing. In addition, the corresponding copolymer formed a stable interfacial monolayer whose behavior did not change significantly as the temperature of the subphase changed. The monolayer morphology exhibited a dot‐like crystalline domain. When the subphase contained cadmium ions, the cyclic moiety showed the ability to trap the metal cations. In this case, the distortion angle of the cup‐shaped conformation of the cyclic moiety in the organized molecular film expanded after metal trapping.Highlights LB film of a copolymer containing azacalixarene and PEG units was prepared. The copolymer formed a dense packing in the LB film. Copolymer film formed a surface morphology containing crystalline grains. The copolymer trapped Cd ions in the azacalixarene ring from the subphase. Due to trapping of Cd ions, the distortion angle of the ring widened by 7°.