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Aleksey M Tikhonov

Publications and source records attributed to Aleksey M Tikhonov.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Tail ordering due to headgroup hydrogen bonding interactions in surfactant monolayers at the water-oil interface.

Interactions between surfactants, and the resultant ordering of surfactant assemblies, can be tuned by the appropriate choice of head- and tailgroups. Detailed studies of the ordering of monolayers of long-chain n-alkanoic and n-alkanol monolayers at the water-vapor interface have demonstrated that rigid-rod all-trans ordering of the tailgroups is maintained upon replacing the alcohol with a carboxylic acid headgroup. In contrast, at the water-hexane liquid-liquid interface, we demonstrate that substitution of the -CH(2)OH with the -COOH headgroup produces a major conformational change of the tailgroup from disordered to ordered. This is demonstrated by the electron density profiles of triacontanol (CH(3)(CH(2))(29)OH) and triacontanoic acid (CH(3)(CH(2))(28)COOH) monolayers at the water-hexane interface, as determined by X-ray reflectivity measurements. Molecular dynamics simulations illustrate the presence of hydrogen bonding between the triacontanoic acid headgroups that is likely responsible for the tail ordering. A simple free energy illustrates the interplay between the attractive hydrogen bonding and the ordering of the tailgroup.

Letter↗

X-ray study of the electric double layer at the n-hexane/nanocolloidal silica interface.

The spatial structure of the transition region between an insulator and an electrolyte solution was studied with x-ray scattering. The electron-density profile across the n-hexane/silica sol interface (solutions with 5, 7, and 12 nm colloidal particles) agrees with the theory of the electrical double layer and shows separation of positive and negative charges. The interface consists of three layers, i.e., a compact layer of Na(+), a loose monolayer of nanocolloidal particles as part of a thick diffuse layer, and a low-density layer sandwiched between them. Its structure is described by a model in which the potential gradient at the interface reflects the difference in the potentials of "image forces" between the cationic Na(+) and anionic nanoparticles and the specific adsorption of surface charge. The density of water in the large electric field (approximately 10(9)-10(10) Vm) of the transition region and the layering of silica in the diffuse layer is discussed.

Journal Article↗

Water density in the electric double layer at the insulator/electrolyte solution interface.

I studied the spatial structure of the thick transition region between n-hexane and a colloidal solution of 7-nm silica particles by X-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence small-angle scattering. The interfacial structure is discussed in terms of a semiquantitative interface model wherein the potential gradient at the n-hexane/sol interface reflects the difference in the potentials of "image forces" between the cationic Na(+) and anions (nanoparticles) and the specific adsorption of surface charge at the interface between the adsorbed layer and the solution, as well as at the interface between the adsorbed layer and n-hexane. The X-ray scattering data revealed that the average density of water in the field approximately 10(9)-10(10) V/m of the electrical double layer at the hexane/silica sol interface is the same as, or only few percent higher (1-7%) than, its density under normal conditions.

Colloids↗

X-ray reflectivity and interfacial tension study of the structure and phase behavior of the interface between water and mixed surfactant solutions of CH3(CH2)19OH and CF3(CF2)7(CH2)2OH in hexane.

The interface between water and mixed surfactant solutions of CH(3)(CH(2))(19)OH and CF(3)(CF(2))(7)(CH(2))(2)OH in hexane was studied with interfacial tension and X-ray reflectivity measurements. Measurements of the tension as a function of temperature for a range of total bulk surfactant concentrations and for three different values of the molal ratio of fluorinated to total surfactant concentration (0.25, 0.28, and 0.5) determined that the interface can be in three different monolayer phases. The interfacial excess entropy determined for these phases suggests that two of the phases are condensed single surfactant monolayers of CH(3)(CH(2))(19)OH and CF(3)(CF(2))(7)(CH(2))(2)OH. By studying four different compositions as a function of temperature, X-ray reflectivity was used to determine the structure of these monolayers in all three phases at the liquid-liquid interface. The X-ray reflectivity measurements were analyzed with a layer model to determine the electron density and thickness of the headgroup and tailgroup layers. The reflectivity demonstrates that phases 1 and 2 correspond to an interface fully covered by only one of the surfactants (liquid monolayer of CH(3)(CH(2))(19)OH in phase 1 and a solid condensed monolayer of CF(3)(CF(2))(7)(CH(2))(2)OH in phase 2). This was determined by analysis of the electron density profile as well as by direct comparison to reflectivity studies of the liquid-liquid interface in systems containing only one of the surfactants (plus hexane and water). The liquid monolayer of CH(3)(CH(2))(19)OH undergoes a transition to the solid monolayer of CF(3)(CF(2))(7)(CH(2))(2)OH with increasing temperature. Phase 3 and the transition regions between phases 1 and 2 consist of a mixed monolayer at the interface that contains domains of the two surfactants. In phase 3 the interface also contains gaseous regions that occupy progressively more of the interface as the temperature is increased. The reflectivity determined the coverage of the surfactant domains at the interface. A simple model is presented that predicts the basic features of the domain coverage as a function of temperature for the mixed surfactant system from the behavior of the single surfactant systems.

Journal Article↗

Molecular ordering and phase transitions in alkanol monolayers at the water-hexane interface.

The interface between bulk water and bulk hexane solutions of n-alkanols (H(CH(2))(m)OH, where m=20, 22, 24, or 30) is studied with x-ray reflectivity, x-ray off-specular diffuse scattering, and interfacial tension measurements. The alkanols adsorb to the interface to form a monolayer. The highest density, lowest temperature monolayers contain alkanol molecules with progressive disordering of the chain from the -CH(2)OH to the -CH(3) group. In the terminal half of the chain that includes the -CH(3) group the chain density is similar to that observed in bulk liquid alkanes just above their freezing temperature. The density in the alkanol headgroup region is 10% greater than either bulk water or the ordered headgroup region found in alkanol monolayers at the water-vapor interface. We conjecture that this higher density is a result of water penetration into the headgroup region of the disordered monolayer. A ratio of 1:3 water to alkanol molecules is consistent with our data. We also place an upper limit of one hexane to five or six alkanol molecules mixed into the alkyl chain region of the monolayer. In contrast, H(CH(2))(30)OH at the water-vapor interface forms a close-packed, ordered phase of nearly rigid rods. Interfacial tension measurements as a function of temperature reveal a phase transition at the water-hexane interface with a significant change in interfacial excess entropy. This transition is between a low temperature interface that is nearly fully covered with alkanols to a higher temperature interface with a much lower density of alkanols. The transition for the shorter alkanols appears to be first order whereas the transition for the longer alkanols appears to be weakly first order or second order. The x-ray data are consistent with the presence of monolayer domains at the interface and determine the domain coverage (fraction of interface covered by alkanol domains) as a function of temperature. This temperature dependence is consistent with a theoretical model for a second order phase transition that accounts for the domain stabilization as a balance between line tension and long range dipole forces. Several aspects of our measurements indicate that the presence of domains represents the appearance of a spatially inhomogeneous phase rather than the coexistence of two homogeneous phases.

Journal Article↗