Surfactant-induced electrical transport phenomena in non-polar liquids

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The term surfactant (SURFace ACTive AgeNTs) is used to describe a wide group of chemicals which play a crucial role in many important industrial applications but also in our daily life. For example, surfactants are compounds of laundry detergents to "soften" the water and to loosen and encapsulate the dirt such that it cannot redeposit again. Relevant industrial applications for surfactants include ground water remediation, production of plastics, or the stabilization of dispersion paints and coatings. Another important feature is that surfactants can generate electrical charges in nonpolar liquids such as hydrocarbons (e.g. oil, petroleum or organic solvents), which can hardly be achieved otherwise. These charging features are used for the safe transport in pipelines but also in modern electronic display technologies. In the proposed research, we explore the charge generation mechanisms in surfactant/nonpolar liquid mixtures and at surfaces in contact with those. The detailed knowledge of the charging mechanism supports the selection of the "right" surfactant for a specific application and the design of novel surfactants with tailored features. Hence, the research has considerable potential to increase the efficiencies of established processes as well as to enable novel processes. Additionally, this research project will train several students (Highly Qualified Personnel) and preparing them for careers in industry and academia.