Phase changes and mosaic formation in single and mixed phospholipid monolayers at the oil-water interface

Insoluble monolayers of phosphatidylcholines and ethanolamines show first-order phase transitions at hydrocarbon-water interfaces, depending on the temperature and chain length. In mixed monolayers of two phosphatidylcholines of different chain lengths, or of phosphatidylcholines and ethanolamines of the same chain length, demixing occurs at the phase transition.