The Langmuir–Blodgett (LB)
technique, through which monolayers
are transferred from the air/water interface onto a solid substrate,
was the first method to allow for the controlled assembly of organic
molecules. With its almost 100 year history, it has been the inspiration
for most methods to functionalize surfaces and produce nanocoatings,
in addition to serving to explore concepts in molecular electronics
and nanoarchitectonics. This paper provides an overview of the history
of Langmuir monolayers and LB films, including the potential use in
devices and a discussion on why LB films are seldom considered for
practical applications today. Emphasis is then given to two areas
where these films offer unique opportunities, namely, in mimicking
cell membrane models and exploiting nanoarchitectonics concepts to
produce sensors, investigate molecular recognitions, and assemble
molecular machines. The most promising topics for the short- and long-term
prospects of the LB technique are also highlighted.