Island formation of soluble fluorinated surfactants at the water-hexane interface
Abstract
X-ray scattering is used to study the domain structure of a monolayer of F(CF_2)_12(CH_2)_2OH self-assembled from a solution (2x10-3mol/kg) in hexane onto the solution-water interface. The x-ray reflectivities measured at different temperatures indicate the existence of a sublimation phase transition. Above the transition temperature the monolayer desorbes into the hexane, leaving behind an interface with very low density of surfactant. Immediately below the transition temperature the monolayer is in a solid-gas coexistence state, with solid islands surrounded by a gaseous phase. The diffuse scattering curves have two submaxima indicating spatial correlation of the islands. The size distribution of the islands and their mean two-body distance can be obtained by fitting the curves with a theoretical model.
- Publication:
-
APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 2000
- Bibcode:
- 2000APS..MART15005S