Chemcial and thermal effects of curvature at oil-water interfaces

Despite the obvious importance, understanding about effects of surfactant structure and temperature (T) at oil-water (O-W) interfaces is needed. This proposal aims to explore these effects with a range of novel, custom-made and structurally diverse surfactants (Figure 1). Of particular focus is the chemical identity of the surfactant hydrophobic chain tip termini, which are in direct contact with the molecules of the external oil phase. With these surfactants, the hydrophilic group structure remains constant (sodium sulfosuccinate), thereby permitting effects of T on hydrophobic interactions (surfactant-oil) to be isolated.

尽管其重要性不言而喻，但目前学界对表面活性剂结构与温度（T）在油-水（O-W）界面的作用机制仍缺乏充分认知。本研究拟采用一系列新颖定制、结构多样的表面活性剂（图1），对上述作用展开探究。本研究重点关注表面活性剂疏水链末端的化学特征，该末端直接与外相油相分子接触。此类表面活性剂的亲水基团结构保持恒定（为磺基琥珀酸钠），从而可分离出温度（T）对疏水相互作用（表面活性剂-油相）的影响。