Quantitative determination of 2D steric forces at the water-air and water-oil interface

We will use GISAXS to investigate the structure of nanoparticle monolayers of inorganic core particles stabilized with polymer brush shells spread at the liquid/air and liquid/liquid interface. By simultaneously recording the inter-particle distance variation and the compression work during compression of monolayers in a Langmuir trough, we will measure inter-particle repulsive forces as a function of core diameter, shell molecular weight, shell topology, and type of liquid interface. Our results will be the first measurements of short-range steric forces in an asymmetric environment as a function of these parameters. Therefore, they will significantly contribute to deepening our knowledge of intermolecular forces in strongly confined environments.