X-Ray Scattering Studies of Thin Liquid Films

该项目采用同步辐射来研究极薄液体薄膜内的分子间相关性。这是一种相对容易控制且几何上定义良好的“受限”液体，其性质可能与散装液体有很大不同。要研究的系统包括浓金属盐溶液的薄膜、粘性液体的铺展膜和固体基底上的润湿膜。薄膜平面内和垂直于薄膜平面的结构将作为薄膜厚度、温度、溶质浓度和应用电位的函数进行探测。这些研究具有根本性的意义，不仅涉及润滑、润湿和扩散，还涉及其他受限系统，如液滴中的液体、多孔矿物、毛细血管和生物细胞。这个项目研究非常薄的液体薄膜内分子的结构排列。同步辐射被用来测量结构，因为它可能与散装液体有很大不同。当液体处于非常薄的薄膜形式或处于其他“受限”几何形状时，它们的性质就会发生变化。调查不仅是基本利益，而且涉及润湿和扩散过程（如发生在油漆或石油泄漏），以及相关的工业过程。获得的信息可能有助于更好地理解其他受限系统的性质，如云中的液滴、多孔岩石中的油、生物细胞和毛细血管中的流体。＊＊＊

w:\awards\awards96\*.doc 9624055 Dutta The project employs synchrotron radiation to study the intermolecular correlations within very thin liquid films. These are a relatively easily controlled and geometrically well defined class of `confined' liquids, whose properties can be significantly different from those of bulk liquids. Systems to be studied include thin films of concentrated metal salt solutions, spreading films of viscous liquids, and wetting films on solid substrates. The structures within and normal to the film plane are to be probed as functions of film thickness, temperature, solute concentration, and applied potential. The investigations are of fundamental interest and are relevant to applications involving not only lubrication, wetting, and spreading, but also to other confined systems such as liquids in droplets, porous minerals, capillaries, and biological cells. %%% This project investigates the structural arrangement of molecules within very thin liquid films. Synchrotron radiation is used to measure the structure as it can be quite different from bulk liquids. The properties of liquids change when they are in the form of very thin films or in other `confined' geometries. The investigation is not only of basic interest but is related wetting and spreading processes (such as occur in painting or oil spills), and related industrial processes. The information obtained is likely to lead to a better understanding of the properties of other confined systems such as droplets in a cloud, oil in porous rocks, and fluids in biological cells and capillaries. ***