Relating domain morphology and lattice structure in monolayers of glycerol amide lipids

The morphology of condensed phase domains in monolayers of glycerol amide lipids has been investigated by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Different nonequilibrium domains with dendritic shapes arise depending on the experimental conditions. Apart from observations in the micrometer range, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GID) experiments have been performed. Results have been compared to those of glycerol ester lipid monolayers. These amphiphiles differ only in the group linking chain and headgroup. The change of this linkage has significant influence on domain morphology and lattice structure. It is shown that the main growth directions of the dendritic domains can be related to directions of the oblique lattice of the molecules. The structures at micrometer resolution and at angstrom range are correlated to each other.