The Effect of Temperature on the Formation of Surfactant-Metal Ion Multilayers at the Air-Water Interface

We have now established that multilayering at the air-water interface is a widespread phenomenon brought about by multivalent ions, whether polyelectrolyte, oligoelectrolyte or multivalent metal ion [1]. Our extensive recent neutron reflection studies on the relatively simpler surfactant-Al3+ ion systems have greatly helped in the understanding of the more complex polymeric systems[2]. In this proposal, we will try to identify whether the multilayered structures of the selected simpler multivalent metal ion-surfactant systems that reach stable and reducible end points, and to prove that they are equilibrium systems or not.