Aggregates from semifluorinated n-alkanes: how incompatibility determines self-assembly

Recent work on semifluorinated alkanes (SFA) has augmented and extended our knowledge of characteristic phenomena displayed by these molecules; in solid, liquid and gel states. A review of new contributions that deal with SFA behavior in the solid phase, in monolayers, and in the liquid state is given. The experimental data confirm that the nanostructures formed are determined predominately by the incompatibility between fluorocarbons and hydrocarbons. New evidence has been presented.