  Stripe-like domains of Langmuir monolayers formed by surfactants with
partially fluorinated lipid anchors (F-alkyl lipids) are observed at the
gas-liquid phase coexistence. The average periodicity of the stripes, measured
by fluorescence microscopy, is in the micrometer range, varying between 2 and 8
microns. The observed stripe-like patterns are stabilized due to dipole-dipole
interactions between terminal -CF3 groups. These interactions are particularly
strong as compared with non-fluorinated lipids due to the low dielectric
constant of the surrounding media (air). These long-range dipolar interactions
tend to elongate the domains, in contrast to the line tension that tends to
minimize the length of the domain boundary. This behavior should be compared
with that of the lipid monolayer having alkyl chains, and which form spherical
micro-domains (bubbles) at the gas-liquid coexistence. The measured stripe
periodicity agrees quantitatively with a theoretical model. Moreover, the
reduction in line tension by adding traces (0.1 mol fraction) of cholesterol
results, as expected, in a decrease in the domain periodicity.
