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.