Project Details
Projekt
Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Polymers and Polymer/Surfactant Systems at Interfaces, Comparative Study of Solid/Liquid and Air/Liquid Interfaces
Applicant
Professor Dr. Gerhard Findenegg (†)
Subject Area
Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
Term
from 2001 to 2009
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5297401
The interaction between surfactants and polyelectrolytes at interfaces and under the influence of the spatial confinement between interfaces will be investigated. The project aims at a better understanding of the question, how the cooperative interaction between polyelectrolytes and opposite charged surfactants in aqueous media is influenced by the presence of a charged or uncharged interface. In particular, for polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes near a fixed substrate the competition between the interactions of the type polyelectrolyte-surfactant, polyelectrolyte-substrate, and surfactant-substrate is not well understood. Specifically, the significance of the counter ion exchange in the aggregate formation process will be studied. Furthermore it is to be clarified whether and under which conditions polyelectrolyte/surfactant-complexes are bound to charged surfaces and whether the counter ions in this binding process. To clarify these questions, the interaction between polyelectrolyte chains, surfactant and substrate surfaces will be studied by calorimetric measurements. The structure of the adsorbed layers is to be characterized by reflectometry measurements. Investigations in thin free-standing films of aqueous surfactant/polyelectrolyte solutions, as well as polyelectrolyte/surfactant aggregates in the cavities of mesoporous silica glasses from central aspects of the project.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
International Connection
France
