Liquid–liquid interfaces: studied by X-ray and neutron scattering

Simple Ion Transfer at Liquid|Liquid Interfaces

The main aspects related to the charge transfer reactions occurring at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) are described. The particular topics to be discussed involve simple ion transfer. Focus is given on theoretical approaches, numerical simulations, and experimental methodologies. Concerning the theoretical procedures, different computational simulations related to simple ion transfer are reviewed. The main conclusions drawn from the most accepted models are described and analyzed in regard to their relevance for explaining different aspects of ion transfer. We describe numerical simulations implementing different approaches for solving the differential equations associated with the mass transport and charge transfer. These numerical simulations are correlated with selected experimental results; their usefulness in designing new experiments is summarized. Finally, many practical applications can be envisaged regarding the determination of physicochemical properties, electroanalysis, drug lipophilicity, and phase-transfer catalysis.

Miscibility and multilayer formation of fluoroalkane-α,ω-diol mixtures at the air/water interface

The surface tension γ of the aqueous solution of 1H,1H,6H,6H-perfluorohexane-1,6-diol (FC₆diol) and 1H,1H,8H,8H-perfluorooctane-1,8-diol (FC8diol) mixtures was measured as a function of total molality m and composition of FC₈diol in the mixture X₂ at 293.15 K under atmospheric pressure. The γ vs m curves except at X₂ = 0 and 0.05 have a distinct break point due to a phase transition in the adsorbed film. The surface pressure π vs mean area per adsorbed molecule A curves consist of two parts connected by a discontinuous change. The curve was almost vertical just below the phase transition, and the variation of the A value with film composition X(2)(H) was linear corresponding to the fact that FC₆diol and FC₈diol molecules orient parallel to the surface and are densely packed with the same areas of individual condensed films. Above the phase transition, the A value further decreases to around 0.12-0.19 nm² which is much smaller than the cross-sectional area of the fluorocarbon chain, indicating the multilayer formation at the surface. The phase diagram of adsorption (PDA) in the condensed film showed that the m vs film composition X(2)(H) curve is almost linear and the excess Gibbs energy of adsorption g(HE)/RT is at most 0.01, manifesting the ideal mixing of molecules. This is in contrast to a positive deviation (g(HE)/RT ~0.12) observed in the condensed film of the mixture of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanol (FC₁₀OH) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorododecanol (FC₁₂OH) with perpendicular molecular orientation. The loss of dispersion interaction between different species having different chain lengths is more appreciable in the perpendicular condensed films and thus leads to less miscibility of FC₁₀OH and FC₁₂OH. In the parallel condensed film, on the other hand, FC₆diol and FC₈diol molecules can arrange their position as close as possible to minimize the loss of dispersion interaction. The X(2)(H) value in the multilayer is close to unity, and thus, the multilayer consists of almost FC₈diol molecules which form a multilayer in the single-component system. Furthermore, the condensed monolayer-multilayer phase transition was accompanied by a large increase in surface density of FC₈diol and a small decrease in that of FC₆diol, indicating that FC₈diol molecules pile preferentially to form a multilayer.

Thin film formation of silica nanoparticle/lipid composite films at the fluid-fluid interface

We report a new and simple method for the formation of thin films at the interface between aqueous silica Ludox dispersions and lipid solutions in decane. The lipids used are stearic acid, stearyl amine, and stearyl alcohol alongside silica Ludox nanoparticle dispersions of varying pH. At basic pH thin films consisting of a mixture of stearic acid and silica nanoparticles precipitate at the interface. At acidic and neutral pH we were able to produce thin films consisting of stearyl amine and silica particles. The film growth was studied in situ with interfacial shear rheology. In addition to that, surface pressure isotherm and dynamic light scattering experiments were performed. The films all exhibit strong dynamic rheological moduli, rendering them an interesting material for applications such as capsule formation, surface coating, or as functional membranes.

The unique molecular behavior of water at the chloroform-water interface

The molecular bonding and orientation of water at the chloroform-water interface has been examined in this study using vibrational sum-frequency spectroscopy (VSFS). The results provide a key puzzle piece towards our understanding of the systematic changes in the interfacial bonding and orientation of water that occur with variations in the polarity of the organic phase, especially when compared with previous studies of different liquid-liquid interfacial systems. In these VSFS studies the OH spectral responses of interfacial water molecules are used to characterize the interactions between water and the organic phase. The spectral analysis, aided by isotopic dilution studies, shows that the moderate polarity of the chloroform phase results in a mixed interfacial region with stronger organic-water bonding and fewer bonding interactions between adjacent water molecules than was previously found for studies of non-polar organic liquid-water interfaces. Even with the more mixed interfacial region and stronger organic-water interactions, interfacial water retains a significant amount of orientational ordering. These results are compared with recent predictions from molecular dynamics simulations about how molecules behave at the chloroform-water interface.

Molecular ordering and phase behavior of surfactants at water-oil interfaces as probed by X-ray surface scattering

Surfactants have their primary utility, both scientific and industrial, at the liquid-liquid interface. We review recent X-ray surface scattering experiments that probe the molecular ordering and phase behavior of surfactants at the water-oil interface. The presence of the oil modifies the interfacial ordering in a manner that cannot be understood simply from analogies with studies of Langmuir monolayers of surfactants at the water-vapor interface or from the traditional view that the solvent is fully mixed with the interfacial surfactants. These studies explored the role of chain flexibility and head group interactions on the ordering of long-chain alkanols and alkanoic acids. Small changes in the surfactant may produce large changes in the interfacial ordering. The interfacial monolayer can be spatially homogeneous or inhomogeneous. Investigators have observed interfacial phase transitions as a function of temperature between homogenous phases, as well as between homogeneous and inhomogeneous phases. Finally, varying the solvent chain length can alter the fundamental character of the phase transitions and lead to the formation of multilayer interfacial structures.

Integration or segregation: how do molecules behave at oil/water interfaces?

It has been over 250 years since Benjamin Franklin, fascinated with the wave-stilling effect of oil on water, performed his famous oil-drop experiments; nevertheless, the behavior of water molecules adjacent to hydrophobic surfaces continues to fascinate today. In the 18th century, the calming of the seas seemed the most pertinent application of such knowledge; today, we understand that oil-on-water phenomena underlie a range of important chemical, physical, and biological processes, including micelle and membrane formation, protein folding, chemical separation, oil extraction, nanoparticle formation, and interfacial polymerization. Beyond classical experiments of the oil-water interface, recent interest has focused on deriving a molecular-level picture of this interface or, more generally, of water molecules positioned next to any hydrophobic surface. This Account summarizes more than a decade's work from our laboratories aimed at understanding the nature of the hydrogen bonding occurring between water and a series of organic liquids in contact. Although the common perception is that water molecules and oil molecules positioned at the interface between the immiscible liquids want nothing to do with one another, we have found that weak interactions between these hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules lead to interesting interfacial behavior, including highly oriented water molecules and layering of the organic medium that extends several molecular layers deep into the bulk organic liquid. For some organic liquids, penetration of oriented water into the organic layer is also apparent, facilitated by molecular interactions established at the molecularly thin region of first contact between the two liquids. The studies involve a combined experimental and computational approach. The primary experimental tool that we have used is vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS), a powerful surface-specific vibrational spectroscopic method for measuring the molecular structures of aqueous surfaces. We have compared the results of these spectroscopic studies with our calculated VSF spectra derived from population densities and orientational distributions determined through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This combination of experiment and theory provides a powerful opportunity to advance our understanding of molecular processes at aqueous interfaces while also allowing us to test the validity of various molecular models commonly used to describe molecular structure and interactions at such interfaces.

Internal structure of a thin film of mixed polymeric micelles on a solid/liquid interface

The adsorption of mixed micelles of poly(4-(2-amino hydrochloride-ethylthio)-butylene)- block-poly(ethylene oxide), PAETB 49- b-PEO 212 and poly(4-(2-sodium carboxylate-ethylthio)-butylene)- block-poly(ethylene oxide), PCETB 47- b-PEO 212 on solid/liquid interfaces has been studied with light, X-ray, and neutron reflectometry. The structure of the adsorbed layer can be described with a two-layer model consisting of an inner layer formed by the coacervate of the polyelectrolyte blocks PAETB 49 and PCETB 47 ( approximately 1 nm) and an outer layer of PEO 212 blocks ( approximately 6 nm). The micelles unfold upon adsorption forming a rather homogeneous flat layer that exposes its polyethylene oxide chains into the solution, thus rendering the surface antifouling after modification with the micelles.

Depth Profiling of Water Molecules at the Liquid−Liquid Interface Using a Combined Surface Vibrational Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Approach

The studies presented here combine experimental and computational approaches to provide new insights into how water structures and penetrates into the organic phase at two different liquid-liquid systems: the interfaces of carbon tetrachloride-water (CCl4-H2O) and 1,2-dichloroethane-water (DCE-H2O). In particular, molecular dynamics simulations are performed to generate computational spectral intensities of the CCl4-H2O and DCE-H2O interfaces that are directly comparable with experimental measurements. These simulations are then applied toward the generation of spectral profiles, responses that vary as functions of both frequency and interfacial depth. These studies emphasize the similarities and differences in the structure, orientation, and bonding of interfacial water as a function of interfacial depth for these two liquid-liquid systems and demonstrate the differing behavior of water monomers that penetrate into the organic phase.

On the salt-induced stabilization of pair and many-body hydrophobic interactions

Salting-out of hydrophobic solutes in aqueous salt solutions and their relevance to salt effects on biophysical phenomena are now well appreciated. Although salt effects on hydrophobic transfer have been well studied, to our knowledge, no quantitative molecular simulation study of salt-induced strengthening of hydrophobic interactions has yet been reported. Here we present quantitative characterization of salt-induced strengthening of hydrophobic interactions at the molecular and nanoscopic length scales through molecular dynamics simulations. Specifically, we quantify the effect of NaCl on the potential of mean force between molecular hydrophobic solutes (methanes) and on conformational equilibria of a 25-mer hydrophobic polymer that efficiently samples ensembles of compact and extended states in water. In both cases, we observe relative stabilization of compact conformations that is accompanied by a clear depletion of salt density (preferential exclusion) and a slight enhancement of water density (preferential hydration) in the solute vicinity. We show that the structural details of salt exclusion can be related to the salt-induced free energy changes using preferential interaction coefficients. We also test the applicability of surface-area-based models to describe the salt-induced free energy changes. These models provide a useful empirical description that can be used to predict the effects of salt on conformational equilibria of hydrophobic solutes. However, we find that the effective increase in the surface tension of the solute-aqueous solution interface depends on the type and concentration of salt as well as the length-scale (i.e., molecular vs nanoscopic) of the conformational change. These calculations underscore the utility of simulation studies to connect quantitatively structural details at the molecular level (described by preferential hydration/exclusion) to macroscopic solvation thermodynamics. The hydrophobic polymer also provides a useful model for studies of effect of thermodynamic variables (P, T, salt/additives) on many-body hydrophobic interactions at nanometer length scales.

Surface vibrational structure at alkane liquid/vapor interfaces

Broadband vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS) has been used to examine the surface structure of alkane liquid/vapor interfaces. The alkanes range in length from n-nonane (C(9)H(20)) to n-heptadecane (C(17)H(36)), and all liquids except heptadecane are studied at temperatures well above their bulk (and surface) freezing temperatures. Intensities of vibrational bands in the CH stretching region acquired under different polarization conditions show systematic, chain length dependent changes. Data provide clear evidence of methyl group segregation at the liquid/vapor interface, but two different models of alkane chain structure can predict chain length dependent changes in band intensities. Each model leads to a different interpretation of the extent to which different chain segments contribute to the anisotropic interfacial region. One model postulates that changes in vibrational band intensities arise solely from a reduced surface coverage of methyl groups as alkane chain length increases. The additional methylene groups at the surface must be randomly distributed and make no net contribution to the observed VSF spectra. The second model considers a simple statistical distribution of methyl and methylene groups populating a three dimensional, interfacial lattice. This statistical picture implies that the VSF signal arises from a region extending several functional groups into the bulk liquid, and that the growing fraction of methylene groups in longer chain alkanes bears responsibility for the observed spectral changes. The data and resulting interpretations provide clear benchmarks for emerging theories of molecular structure and organization at liquid surfaces, especially for liquids lacking strong polar ordering.

Tail Ordering Due to Headgroup Hydrogen Bonding Interactions in Surfactant Monolayers at the Water−Oil Interface

Interactions between surfactants, and the resultant ordering of surfactant assemblies, can be tuned by the appropriate choice of head- and tailgroups. Detailed studies of the ordering of monolayers of long-chain n-alkanoic and n-alkanol monolayers at the water-vapor interface have demonstrated that rigid-rod all-trans ordering of the tailgroups is maintained upon replacing the alcohol with a carboxylic acid headgroup. In contrast, at the water-hexane liquid-liquid interface, we demonstrate that substitution of the -CH(2)OH with the -COOH headgroup produces a major conformational change of the tailgroup from disordered to ordered. This is demonstrated by the electron density profiles of triacontanol (CH(3)(CH(2))(29)OH) and triacontanoic acid (CH(3)(CH(2))(28)COOH) monolayers at the water-hexane interface, as determined by X-ray reflectivity measurements. Molecular dynamics simulations illustrate the presence of hydrogen bonding between the triacontanoic acid headgroups that is likely responsible for the tail ordering. A simple free energy illustrates the interplay between the attractive hydrogen bonding and the ordering of the tailgroup.

Adsorption and phase transition of alkanol and fluoroalkanol at electrified mercury/aqueous solution interface

The adsorption behavior and the phase transition of alkanol and fluoroalkanol at the electrified mercury/aqueous solution interface were investigated by the interfacial tension measurements and the thermodynamic analysis. In the alkanol system, it is found that the phase transitions in low interfacial densities occur: the ones from the zero adsorption to the gaseous or the expanded state and the gaseous to the expanded state at the electrified interface depending on the electrostatic nature as well as the concentration in the bulk phase. These phase transitions were verified by the thermodynamic equations derived by the assumption of coexistence of two phases at the electrified interface. Furthermore the distribution of ionic species in the interfacial region is discussed on the basis of dependence of the interfacial charge density of solution phase on an applied potential. Fluoroalkanol, on the other hand, was practically not adsorbed at the electrified interface within this experimental condition. The zero adsorption of fluoroalkanol molecules suggests the driving force of the adsorption may be the interaction hydrophobic group of alcohol molecule and mercury.

Theoretical Studies of Solute Vibrational Energy Relaxation at Liquid Interfaces

Recent advances in the theoretical understanding of solute vibrational energy relaxation at liquid interfaces and surfaces are described. Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of the relaxation of an initially excited solute molecule are combined with equilibrium force autocorrelation calculations to gain insight into the factors that influence the vibrational relaxation rate. Diatomic and triatomic nonpolar, polar, and ionic solute molecules adsorbed at the liquid/vapor interface of several liquids as well as at the water/CCl(4) liquid/liquid interface are considered. In general, the vibrational relaxation rate is significantly slower (a factor of 3 to 4) at the liquid/vapor and liquid/liquid interface than in the bulk due to the reduced density, which gives rise to a reduced contribution of the repulsive solvent-solute forces on the vibrational mode. The surface effects on the ionic solutes are much smaller (50% or less slower relaxation relative to the bulk). This is due to the fact that ionic solutes at the interface are able to keep part of their solvation shell to a degree that depends on their size. Thus, a significant portion of the repulsive forces is maintained. A high degree of correlation is found between the peak height of the solvent-solute radial distribution function and the vibrational relaxation rate. The relaxation rate at the liquid/liquid interface strongly depends on the location of the solute across the interface and correlates with the change in the density and polarity profile of the interface.

Width of the hexadecane-water interface: a discrepancy resolved

An existing discrepancy in the determined values of the width of the hexadecane-water interface as determined from X-ray reflection (XR) and recent neutron reflection (NR) measurements has been resolved. The NR-determined width reported here is 6.0 +/- 1.0 Angstroms, which compares extremely well with the XR-determined value of 6.0 +/- 0.2 Angstroms. The origin of the discrepancy has been attributed to the thermal history of the interface rather than sample purity or other technique-dependent reasons.

Hydration Shell Exchange Dynamics during Ion Transfer Across the Liquid/Liquid Interface

We examine using molecular dynamics simulations the rate and mechanism of water molecules exchange around the Li(+) and Na(+) ions during ion transfer across the interface between water and nitrobenzene. As the ions are transferred from the water to the organic phase, they keep their first hydration shell and an incomplete second shell. The rate of water exchange between the first shell and the rest of the interfacial water molecule decreases during the transfer, which is consistent with an increase in the barrier along the ion-water potential of mean force. While in bulk water the exchange of water molecules around the Li(+) follows an associative (A) or associative interchange (I(a)) type mechanism, the fraction of exchange events of type A increases at the interface. In contrast, while in bulk water the exchange of water molecules around the six coordinated Na(+) hydrated species mainly follows a dissociative mechanism, the situation at the interface involves an equilibrium interchange between the four- and five-coordinated hydrated ion. Simulation of the reversed process, in which the hydrated Li(+) ion is transferred to the aqueous phase, shows the same general behavior as a function of location from the interface.

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions at Liquid/Liquid Interfaces: Molecular Dynamics Simulation of a Model SN1 Dissociation Reaction at the Water/Carbon Tetrachloride Interface

The ionic dissociation step of the nucleophilic substitution reaction t-BuCl --> t-Bu(+) + Cl(-) is studied at the water/carbon tetrachloride interface using molecular dynamics computer simulations. The empirical valence bond approach is used to couple two diabatic states, covalent and ionic, in the electronically adiabatic limit. The umbrella sampling technique is used to calculate the potential of mean force along the reaction coordinate (defined as the t-Bu to Cl distance) at several interface regions of varying distances from the Gibbs dividing surface. We find a significant increase of the ionic dissociation barrier height and of the reaction free energy at the interface relative to bulk water. This is shown to be due to the reduced polarity of the interface which causes a destabilization of the pure ionic state. However, deformation to the neat interface structure in the form of water protrusions into the organic phase may provide partial stabilization of the ionic species. The importance of these structural effects is examined by repeating the calculations with an artificially smooth interface. The destabilization of the ionic state at the interface also manifests itself with a rapid (picosecond time scale) recombination dynamics of the ions to form the parent molecule followed by a slow vibrational relaxation.

Hydrogen Bond Dynamics at Water/Organic Liquid Interfaces

Hydrogen bond dynamics at the neat interface between water and a series of organic liquids are studied with molecular dynamics computer simulation. The organic liquids are nonpolar (carbon tetrachloride), weakly polar (1,2-dichloroethane), and polar (nitrobenzene). The effect of surface polarity and surface roughness is examined. The dynamics are expressed in terms of the hydrogen bond population autocorrelation functions and are found to be nonexponential and strongly dependent on the nature of the organic phase. In particular, at all interfaces, the dynamics are slower at the interface than in the bulk and sensitive to the location of the water molecules along the interface normal.

Characterization of biological thin films at the solid-liquid interface by x-ray reflectivity

We demonstrate that 18 keV x-rays can be used to study organic thin films at the solid-liquid interface by x-ray reflectivity. We establish that this is a powerful technique for investigating biological systems in a previously inaccessible manner. Our measurements enabled the density distribution of single phospholipid bilayer membranes in bulk water to be measured with unprecedented precision. Previously, characterization of biomimetic structures normal to a "buried" interface was a domain of neutron reflectivity.

Structural studies of amphiphiles adsorbed at liquid-liquid interfaces using neutron reflectometry

We report the application and refinement of a recently developed method for structural studies at a liquid liquid interface using neutron reflectometry. The technique involves the entrapment of a thin oil layer between a silicon substrate and an aqueous subphase. The thin oil film is prepared by spin-coating an oil film on to an oleophilically treated silicon substrate. During the reflectivity measurement the sample is maintained in a horizontal position, and the angle of incidence of the neutron beam is varied using a supermirror. Attenuation of neutron reflectivity at the lowest angle of incidence is used to determine the oil-layer thickness. We report information regarding the structure at the interface between hexadecane and a 0.1% w/v aqueous solution of the triblock copolymer Pluronic L64 with EO13PO30EO13 (EO = ethylene oxide; PO = propylene oxide) and the interface between hexadecane and a 3.7 mmol dm(-3) (approximately critical micelle concentration) aqueous solution of the cationic surfactant tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C14TAB). For the C14TAB system, the reflectivity data unambiguously reveal the presence of a region highly concentrated in C14TAB on the oil side of the interface. For the Pluronic L64 system, the data suggest that the polymer adsorbs at the interface occupying both oil and water sides of the interface. Model scattering length density profiles that capture these features are presented and further models that better fit the data are discussed.

Surface freezing of chain molecules at the liquid–liquid and liquid–air interfaces

Surface freezing (SF) is the formation of a crystalline monolayer at the free surface of a melt at a temperature Ts, a few degrees above the bulk freezing temperature, Tb. This effect, i.e. Ts > Tb, common to many chain molecules, is in a marked contrast with the surface melting effect, i.e. Ts < or = Tb, shown by almost all other materials. Depending on chain length, n, the SF layer shows a variety of phases, in some cases tuneable by bulk additives. The SF behaviour of binary mixtures of different-length alkanes and alcohols is governed by the relative chain length mismatch, /delta n/n/2, yielding a quasi-"universal" behaviour for the freezing of both bulk and surface. While SF at the liquid air interface was studied rather extensively, Lei and Bain (Phys. Rev. Lett., 2004, 94, 176103) have shown only very recently that interfacial freezing (IF) can be induced also at the water: tetradecane interface by adding the ionic surfactant CTAB to the water phase. We present measurements of the interfacial tension of the water: hexadecane interface, as a function of temperature and the ionic surfactant STAB, revealing IF at a STAB-concentration-dependent temperature Ti > Tb. The measurements indicate that a single frozen monolayer is formed, with a temperature-existence range of up to 10 degrees C, much larger than the 1.2 degrees C found for SF at the free surface of the melt. We also find a new effect, where the IF allows tuning of the interfacial tension between the two bulk phases to zero for a range of temperatures, deltaT = Tmix - Tb < or = Ti - Tb by cooling the system below Ti. We discuss qualitatively the factors stabilizing the frozen layer and their variation from the liquid-air to the liquid-liquid interfaces. The surfactant concentration dependence of Ti is also discussed and a tentative theoretical explanation is suggested.

X-ray Reflectivity and Interfacial Tension Study of the Structure and Phase Behavior of the Interface between Water and Mixed Surfactant Solutions of CH3(CH2)19OH and CF3(CF2)7(CH2)2OH in Hexane

The interface between water and mixed surfactant solutions of CH(3)(CH(2))(19)OH and CF(3)(CF(2))(7)(CH(2))(2)OH in hexane was studied with interfacial tension and X-ray reflectivity measurements. Measurements of the tension as a function of temperature for a range of total bulk surfactant concentrations and for three different values of the molal ratio of fluorinated to total surfactant concentration (0.25, 0.28, and 0.5) determined that the interface can be in three different monolayer phases. The interfacial excess entropy determined for these phases suggests that two of the phases are condensed single surfactant monolayers of CH(3)(CH(2))(19)OH and CF(3)(CF(2))(7)(CH(2))(2)OH. By studying four different compositions as a function of temperature, X-ray reflectivity was used to determine the structure of these monolayers in all three phases at the liquid-liquid interface. The X-ray reflectivity measurements were analyzed with a layer model to determine the electron density and thickness of the headgroup and tailgroup layers. The reflectivity demonstrates that phases 1 and 2 correspond to an interface fully covered by only one of the surfactants (liquid monolayer of CH(3)(CH(2))(19)OH in phase 1 and a solid condensed monolayer of CF(3)(CF(2))(7)(CH(2))(2)OH in phase 2). This was determined by analysis of the electron density profile as well as by direct comparison to reflectivity studies of the liquid-liquid interface in systems containing only one of the surfactants (plus hexane and water). The liquid monolayer of CH(3)(CH(2))(19)OH undergoes a transition to the solid monolayer of CF(3)(CF(2))(7)(CH(2))(2)OH with increasing temperature. Phase 3 and the transition regions between phases 1 and 2 consist of a mixed monolayer at the interface that contains domains of the two surfactants. In phase 3 the interface also contains gaseous regions that occupy progressively more of the interface as the temperature is increased. The reflectivity determined the coverage of the surfactant domains at the interface. A simple model is presented that predicts the basic features of the domain coverage as a function of temperature for the mixed surfactant system from the behavior of the single surfactant systems.