Structure and Volta potential of lipid multilayers: effect of X-ray irradiation

The intriguing journey of gH625-dendrimers

The knowledge of the mechanism used by vectors to gain access to cell interiors is key to the development of effective drug delivery tools for different pathologies.

The Search for Nanobubbles by Using Specular and Off-Specular Neutron Reflectometry

We apply specular and off-specular neutron reflection at the hydrophobic silicon/water interface to check for evidence of nanoscopic air bubbles whose presence is claimed after an ad hoc procedure of solvent exchange. Nanobubbles and/or a depletion layer at the hydrophobic/water interface have long been discussed and generated a plethora of controversial scientific results. By combining neutron reflectometry (NR), off-specular reflectometry (OSS), and grazing incidence small angle neutron scattering (GISANS), we studied the interface between hydrophobized silicon and heavy water before and after saturation with nitrogen gas. Our specular reflectometry results can be interpreted by assuming a submolecular sized depletion layer and the off-specular measurements show no change with nitrogen super saturated water. This picture is consistent with the assumption that, following the solvent exchange, no additional nanobubbles are introduced at significant concentrations (if present at all). Furthermore, we discuss the results in terms of the maximum surface coverage of nanobubbles that could be present on the hydrophobic surface compatibly with the sensitivity limit of these techniques.

Solid-liquid interfaces of ionic liquid solutions--Interfacial layering and bulk correlations

The influence of the polar, aprotic solvent propylene carbonate on the interfacial structure of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate on sapphire was investigated by high-energy x-ray reflectivity. Experiments at solvent concentrations between 17 mol. % and 83 mol. % bridge the gap between diluted electrolytes described by the classical Gouy-Chapman theory and pure ionic liquids. Analysis of our experimental data revealed interfacial profiles comprised of alternating anion and cation enriched regions decaying gradually into the bulk liquid. With increasing solvent concentration, we observed a decrease in correlation length of the interfacial layering structure. At high ion concentrations, solvent molecules were found to accumulate laterally within the layers. By separating like-charged ions, they reduce their Coulomb repulsion. The results are compared with the bulk structure of IL/solvent blends probed by x-ray scattering and predictions from fundamental fluid theory.

Chemistry-dependent X-ray-induced surface charging

In situ work function measurements during irradiation of solid substrates reveal chemistry-specific surface charging which cannot be detected ex situ.