The influence of lanthanide-(III)-nitrates on adsorbed monolayers of dodecylphosphorylcholine at the air-water interface.

Adsorption layers at the air-water interface formed from the soluble zwitterionic surfactant dodecylphosphorylcholine (DPC) serving as a soluble model substance for phospho-lipids were characterized with respect to their equilibrium and dynamic surface properties. To clarify the effect of ionic interactions with electrolyte present in the bulk phase, surface rheological properties upon addition of Ce(NO3)3 and Yb(NO3)3 were determined. In order to account for the surface activity of the nitrate ion, comparative measurements using NaNO3 were carried out additionally. Further experimental information on the bulk hydration characteristics of the aqueous solutions was obtained using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). A possible mechanism causing the deviating surface dilatational modulus E in terms of ion specificity is suggested.

Simultaneous measurement of the thickness and the lifetime of a foam lamella.

Despite the important role of foams in industrial applications, few methods for determining the stability are present. By extending the existing light reflection-based apparatus, additional information about a single foam lamella can be obtained. Evaluation of these data delivers insight into the thinning process of the lamella. The potential of this technique is shown for the analysis of two surfactants with different head group lengths (Lutensol XP 100 and Lutensol XP 140).

The surface rheological signature of the geometric isomers of an azobenzene-surfactant.

The equilibrium and dynamic surface properties of a photosensitive azobenzene-surfactant subject to illumination with UV and Vis-light leading to the respective geometric cis- and trans-isomers were studied. The adsorption layers formed by the soluble surfactant were characterized by pendant drop tensiometry and surface rheology using the oscillating bubble technique. Aqueous solutions corresponding to the geometric isomers could clearly be distinguished in terms of both their equilibrium and dynamic surface properties. The frequency dependence of the surface dilatational modulus could be described by the extended Lucassen-van den Tempel (LvdT)-model. These findings can be interpreted in terms of the changes of the dipole moment. Furthermore, they shed some light on the relation between the molecular structure and macroscopic properties of the adsorption layer.

Measurement of the lifetime of individual foam lamellae.

Foams play a crucial role in a number of practical applications. Their analysis in terms of stability is subject to a large number of parameters. An automated, light reflection based device for the measurement of the lifetime of a single foam lamella of aqueous surfactant solutions in contact with the liquid and gas phases is proposed. The capability of the method is shown for the analysis of the cationic and anionic model surfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with saturated humidity, respectively. A statistical approach for analysis of the individual foam lamella lifetimes is presented and a comparison to the foam stability parameters obtained from a foam column device is presented.

The Role of Surface Viscosity in the Escape Mechanism of the Stenus Beetle.

Beetles of the species Stenus comma live and hunt close to ponds and rivers, where they occasionally fall on the water surface. To escape this jeopardized state, the beetle developed a strategy relying on the excretion of a secretion containing the substances stenusine and norstenusine. They reduce surface tension and propel the bug to the saving river bank. These substances were synthesized and analyzed with respect to their equilibrium and dynamic adsorption properties at the air-water interface (pH 7, 23 ± 1 °C). The surface dilatational rheological characteristics in a frequency range from 2 to 500 Hz at molar bulk concentrations of 20.6 mmol L(-1) were studied using the oscillating bubble technique. Both alkaloids formed surface viscoelastic adsorption layers. The frequency dependence of the surface dilatational modulus E could successfully be described by the extended Lucassen-van den Tempel model accounting for a nonzero intrinsic surface viscosity κ. The findings confirmed a dual purpose of the spreading alkaloids in the escape mechanism of the Stenus beetle. Next to generating a surface pressure, a transition to surface viscoelastic behavior of the adsorbed layers was observed.

Retrieval of complex χ((2)) parts for quantitative analysis of sum-frequency generation intensity spectra.

Vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy has become an established technique for in situ surface analysis. While spectral recording procedures and hardware have been optimized, unique data analysis routines have yet to be established. The SFG intensity is related to probing geometries and properties of the system under investigation such as the absolute square of the second-order susceptibility χ((2)) (2). A conventional SFG intensity measurement does not grant access to the complex parts of χ((2)) unless further assumptions have been made. It is therefore difficult, sometimes impossible, to establish a unique fitting solution for SFG intensity spectra. Recently, interferometric phase-sensitive SFG or heterodyne detection methods have been introduced to measure real and imaginary parts of χ((2)) experimentally. Here, we demonstrate that iterative phase-matching between complex spectra retrieved from maximum entropy method analysis and fitting of intensity SFG spectra (iMEMfit) leads to a unique solution for the complex parts of χ((2)) and enables quantitative analysis of SFG intensity spectra. A comparison between complex parts retrieved by iMEMfit applied to intensity spectra and phase sensitive experimental data shows excellent agreement between the two methods.

Impact of the imaginary part of the surface dilatational modulus on the splashing behavior of drops.

The relation between the complex surface dilatational modulus E of aqueous surfactant solutions and the splashing behavior of their drops on liquid surfaces was investigated. The surface dilatational modulus E of selected surfactant systems has been determined in the frequency range of 3 to 500 Hz by means of the oscillating bubble technique. According to the functional dependence of the phase ϕ of the complex modulus E(ω, c)exp[iϕ(ω, c)] at higher frequencies, adsorption layers can be classified as surface elastic or surface viscoelastic. Each behavior shows pronounced differences in drop splashing experiments. The impact of a drop on the liquid was monitored with a high-speed camera. The splash of a drop is a rather complex phenomenon, so the focus of this article is to establish a relationship between the imaginary part of the surface dilatational modulus E and the height of the drop rebound. These findings may be of importance for formulations in crop protection, introducing a chemical way to influence the impact of drops on solid and liquid interfaces.