The structure of THF-water mixtures and clathrates in nanoscale confinement - 2

Understanding the properties of fluids confined to nanometer scale pores is essential to predict and control a wide range of natural and industrial processes. In this proposal we would like to study the structure of mixtures of tetrahydrofuran (C4H8O, THF) and water in mesoporous silicas with pores of the order 3 - 10nm diameter. A the composition we would like to study (1:3.3 THF:water) the liquids are miscible at ambient temperature, but the mixture sites under a critical point for closed-loop phase separation. By measureing the structure in confinement we will be able to determine whether the interfaces destabilise the phase diagram, to cause surface adsorption of THF. Our hypothesis based on our previous experiment at a lower concentration (RB2210033) is that we will see demixing - we are excited to confirm and quantify this effect. We note also that THF-water is a clathrate forming system, and parallel studies are unearthing fascinating confinement effects at lower temperatures.