Calix(8)arene LB superlattices: pyroelectric molecular baskets

Carboxyl and amino groups have been inserted into calix(8)arene rings to yield two materials which, when processed as alternate-layer Langmuir-Blodgett assemblies, exhibit the pyroelectric effect. Such a temperature-dependent electric polarisation arises partially from proton transfer between the acid and amine groups. The calix(8)arene system has been selected because of the extreme thinness of each monolayer (~1.0 nm), the resulting high density of acid-amine pairs and the very high thermal stability exhibited by calixarenes (typically, melting point above 200°C)