A common type of layer-by-layer assembly (LbL) is electrostatic selfassembly, where, for example, a positively charged polyelectrolyte
assembles spontaneously on an oxidized silica or silanol surface.
Lennard-Jones potential: A common intermolecular pair potential
representing the interaction between atoms or molecules as a
dispersion term proportional to the sixth power of distance and a
overlap repulsion proportional to the 12th power of distance. The
curve describes both attractive and repulsive interactions
between two neutral particles and the distance at which these
interactions cancel each other out.
Light-emitting diode: A semiconductor device that produces light when
an electric current is passed through it in a particular direction.
Also known as LEDs.
Lipopolymer: Consists of a soft hydrophilic polymer layer with lipidlike
molecules at their surface. These structures can insert into a
phospholipid membrane and tether to the polymer spacing.
Lithography: See nanolithography.
London dispersion forces: Intermolecular forces that involve quantum
mechanical correlation between electrons in materials instead of
electrostatic properties that can be represented with classical
mechanics.
LUMO: Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital.
Marcus theory: A theoretical model for electron transfer processes in
which electrons tunnel through a barrier between overlapping
donor and acceptor states and the kinetics can be described in
terms of the difference in Gibbs energy between states, the
overlap of the states, and the response of the solvent/environment
to the movement of the electron.
Mean-free path: Relates to the distance an electron travels between
subsequent collisions with other moving particles.
Mechanical work (w): Occurs when a system exerts a force on its surroundings (negative) or the surroundings exert a force on the
system (positive). A product of unbalanced forces and is one of
two ways energy can be transferred (the other is heat).
Micelle: Spherical structures formed from the aggregation of surfactant
molecules above the critical micelle concentration (CMC).
Glossary
447
assembles spontaneously on an oxidized silica or silanol surface.
Lennard-Jones potential: A common intermolecular pair potential
representing the interaction between atoms or molecules as a
dispersion term proportional to the sixth power of distance and a
overlap repulsion proportional to the 12th power of distance. The
curve describes both attractive and repulsive interactions
between two neutral particles and the distance at which these
interactions cancel each other out.
Light-emitting diode: A semiconductor device that produces light when
an electric current is passed through it in a particular direction.
Also known as LEDs.
Lipopolymer: Consists of a soft hydrophilic polymer layer with lipidlike
molecules at their surface. These structures can insert into a
phospholipid membrane and tether to the polymer spacing.
Lithography: See nanolithography.
London dispersion forces: Intermolecular forces that involve quantum
mechanical correlation between electrons in materials instead of
electrostatic properties that can be represented with classical
mechanics.
LUMO: Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital.
Marcus theory: A theoretical model for electron transfer processes in
which electrons tunnel through a barrier between overlapping
donor and acceptor states and the kinetics can be described in
terms of the difference in Gibbs energy between states, the
overlap of the states, and the response of the solvent/environment
to the movement of the electron.
Mean-free path: Relates to the distance an electron travels between
subsequent collisions with other moving particles.
Mechanical work (w): Occurs when a system exerts a force on its surroundings (negative) or the surroundings exert a force on the
system (positive). A product of unbalanced forces and is one of
two ways energy can be transferred (the other is heat).
Micelle: Spherical structures formed from the aggregation of surfactant
molecules above the critical micelle concentration (CMC).
Glossary
447