Scattering on Liquid-Liquid Interfaces Int. Workshop, June 22-24 2007 Conference Center Klinten, Rodvig, Denmark

An international workshop on the topic of scattering from liquid-liquid interfaces by x-rays and neutrons was organized from June 22-24 2007 at the Conference Center Klinten near Rodvig, Denmark.

An outstanding problem in studies of interfacial phenomena is the determination of structure at liquid–liquid interfaces. These interfaces play an important role in many chemical and biological systems. Their structure is relevant, for example, to the understanding of electron and molecular transfer across biological membranes and to the partitioning of solvents and metal ions across liquid–liquid interfaces often important in addressing environmental issues. Liquid–liquid interfaces can be viewed also as model systems whose study will influence our general understanding of inhomogeneous materials. In spite of their importance, there remain fundamental questions in the study of liquid–liquid interfaces that have been barely addressed.

X-ray reflectivity is one of the few techniques available for structural investigation of liquid-liquid interfaces. Although neutron reflectivity has been used to study mixed surfactant monolayers at the liquid-vapor and solid-liquid interfaces, its utility for studies of the liquid-liquid interface has so far been limited. The isotopic contrast variation by neutron scattering is a tremendous advantage in the study of structure and interaction of liquid-liquid systems. The option for more intense neutron beams at new spallation neutron sources and the operation of new neutron reflectometers at several existing sources (FRM-II, ILL and outside Europe) opens the new possibilities to tackle the problems of liquid-liquid interfaces with neutrons.

The workshop discussed among leading scientists in the field the opportunities and needs to study liquid-liquid interfaces with neutrons. An overview of the current work on liquid-liquid interfaces was given, current instrument options and future developments outlined and ideas for co-operation in the future use of neutrons to investigate liquid-liquid interfaces were dsicussed.

Invited speakers:

John Ankner, SNS, Oak Ridge, USA
Prospects for Reflectivity Studies of Liquids at the SNS

Jean Daillant, CEA, Saclay, France
Scattering from nanoparticles at the oil/water interface

Giovanna Fragneto, ILL, France
FIGARO: a reflectometer for the study of fluid interfaces

Oleg Konovalov, ESRF, Grenoble, France
Studies of Phospholipids Monolayer at Liquid/Liquid Interface in Presence of an Antimicrobial Peptide

Mark Schlossman, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
The Influence of Liquid Structure on Interfacial Ion Distributions

Robert Thomas, University of Oxford
What can we expect to learn about surfactants at the liquid/liquid interface? Extrapolation of neutron results from solid/liquid and air/liquid results

Metin Tolan, University of Dortmund, Germany
Adsorption of thin liquid films on fluid and solid interfaces

John Webster, ISIS, Chilton, UK
Neutron Reflection From Liquid-Liquid Interfaces

Ali Zarbakhsh, Queen Mary, University of London, UK
The structural studies of amphipiles adsorbed at a liquid-liquid interface using neutron reflectometry


Venue:

The workshop was held at the Conference Center Klinten near Rodvig, Denmark, which is about 60 km south of Copenhagen. This is easily reached by frequent train connections from Copenhagen Airport.

Workshop fee:

The workshop fee was 350 EUR covering full accommodation for two nights and lunch and dinner during the workshop at Conference Center Klinten.

Comments and questions can be given to the workshop organizers
Thomas Gutberlet, PSI
Adrain Rennie, Uppsala University

The workshop is kindly supported by NMI3, ILL, ISIS-LSS group and PSI-NUM.