Hydrogen bond dynamics at water/organic liquid interfaces

Hydrogen bond dynamics at the neat interface between water and a series of organic liquids are studied with molecular dynamics computer simulation. The organic liquids are nonpolar (carbon tetrachloride), weakly polar (1,2-dichloroethane), and polar (nitrobenzene). The effect of surface polarity and surface roughness is examined. The dynamics are expressed in terms of the hydrogen bond population autocorrelation functions and are found to be nonexponential and strongly dependent on the nature of the organic phase. In particular, at all interfaces, the dynamics are slower at the interface than in the bulk and sensitive to the location of the water molecules along the interface normal.     

Electrochemistry at micro- and nanoscopic liquid/liquid interfaces

In this tutorial review, we will briefly introduce the history and basic concepts of micro- and nanoscopic liquid/liquid interfaces (size from nm to μm) in electrochemical studies of charge (electron and ion) transfer reactions at soft molecular interfaces. Their advantages and problems are usually compared with those of conventional liquid/liquid interfaces (size from mm to cm); and with solid/electrolyte interfaces. Three methods of fabrication of micro-liquid/liquid interfaces and one approach to support a nano-liquid/liquid interface are surveyed. The experimental and theoretical aspects are discussed along with possible approaches to characterize these micro- and nanoscopic liquid/liquid interfaces, and the methods to modify them with new functionality. Unique examples of applications of electrochemistry at micro- and nanoscopic liquid/liquid interfaces are provided. Some novel and potential research interests in the future in this field are discussed.     

Potential-modulation spectroscopy at solid/liquid and liquid/liquid interfaces.

Potential-modulation spectroelectrochemical methods at solid/liquid and liquid/liquid interfaces are reviewed. After a brief summary of the basic features and advantages of the methods, practical applications of potential-modulation spectroscopy are demonstrated using our recent studies of solid/liquid and liquid/liquid interfaces, including reflection measurements for a redox protein on a modified gold electrode and fluorescence measurements for various dyes at a polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane interface. For both interfaces, the use of linearly polarized incident light enabled an estimation of the molecular orientation. The use of a potential-modulated transmission-absorption measurement for an optically transparent electrode with immobilized metal nanoparticles is also described. The ability of potential-modulated fluorescence spectroscopy to clearly elucidate the charge transfer and adsorption mechanisms at liquid/liquid interfaces is highlighted.     

DNA adsorption at liquid/solid interfaces

DNA adsorption on solid or liquid surfaces is a topic of broad fundamental and applied interest. Here, we study by X-ray reflectivity the adsorption of monodisperse double-stranded DNA molecules on a positively charged surface, obtained through chemical grafting of a homogeneous organic monomolecular layer of N-(2-aminoethyl) dodecanamide on an oxide-free monocrystalline Si(111) wafer. The adsorbed dsDNA is found to embed into the soft monolayer, which is deformed in the process. The surface coverage is very high, and this adsorbed layer is expected to display 2D nematic ordering.     

Comparative study of electron transfer reactions at the ionic liquid/water and organic/water interfaces

The rates of electron transfer (ET) reactions at the water/ionic liquid (IL) interface have been measured for the first time using scanning electrochemical microscopy. The standard bimolecular rate constant of the interfacial ET between ferrocene dissolved in 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and aqueous ferricyanide (0.4 M-1 cm s-1) was found to be approximately 30 times higher than the corresponding rate constant measured at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface. The driving force dependence of the ET rate was investigated over a wide range of the interfacial potential drop values (>200 mV). The observed Butler-Volmer-type dependence is discussed in terms of the interfacial model. The ET was also probed at the interface between aqueous solution and the mixture of the IL and 1,2-dichloroethane. The mole fractions in this mixture were varied systematically to investigate the transition from the water/organic to the water/IL interface. The observed decrease in the rate constant with increasing mole fraction of 1,2-dichloroethane is in contrast with the previously reported direct correlation between the electrochemical rate constant and the diffusion coefficient of redox species in solution.     

Globular proteins at solid/liquid interfaces

Seven years have passed since one of us (W.N.) published the last comprehensive review on the mechanism of globular protein adsorption to solid/water interfaces. Since that time, annual contributions to the field have steadily increased and substantial progress has been made in a number of important areas. This review takes a fresh look at the driving force for protein adsorption by combining recent advances with key results from the past. The analysis indicates that four effects, namely structural rearrangements in the protein molecule, dehydration of (parts of) the sorbent surface, redistribution of charged groups in the interfacial layer, and protein surface polarity usually make the primary contributions to the overall adsorption behavior.     

Excited-state dynamics of organic dyes at liquid/liquid interfaces

Liquid/liquid interfaces play a crucial role in numerous areas of science. However, direct spectroscopic access to this thin (～1 nm) region is not possible with conventional optical methods. After a brief review of the most used techniques to perform interfacial optical spectroscopy, we will focus on time-resolved surface second harmonic generation, which allows the measurement of the excited-state dynamics of probe molecules at interfaces. By comparing these dynamics with those measured in bulk solutions, precious information on the properties of the interfacial region can be obtained. To illustrate this, several studies performed in our group will be presented.     

Electron transfer kinetics at polarized nanoscopic liquid/liquid interfaces

Rapid kinetics of electron transfer (ET) reactions across the interface between water and 1,2-dichloroethane were measured by steady-state voltammetry at nanopipet electrodes (50- to 400-nm orifice radius). The origins of previously reported imperfect voltammetric responses of ET reactions at micropipets were investigated. Several new experimental systems were explored, and two of them yielded high-quality voltammograms suitable for kinetic experiments. The determined standard rate constants were compared to those measured previously at polarized and nonpolarized liquid/liquid interfaces. The effect of the interfacial dimensions on the magnitude of the apparent ET rate constant is discussed. A new approach to ET kinetic measurements based on the use of the scanning electrochemical microscope with a nanopipet tip and a metallic substrate has been developed and employed to check the validity of determined kinetic parameters.     

Ultrafast excited-state electron transfer at an organic liquid/aqueous interface

Ultrafast excited-state electron transfer has been monitored at the liquid/liquid interface for the first time. Second harmonic generation (SHG) pump/probe measurements monitored the electron transfer (ET) occurring between photoexcited coumarin 314 (C314) acceptor and dimethylaniline (DMA) donor molecules. In the treatment of this problem, translational diffusion of solute molecules can be neglected since the donor DMA is one of the liquid phases of the interface. The dynamics of excited-state C314 at early times are characterized by two components with exponential time constants of 362 +/- 60 fs and 14 +/- 2 ps. The 362 fs decay is attributed to the solvation of the excited-state C314, and the 14 ps to the ET from donor to acceptor. We are able to provide conclusive evidence that the 14 ps component is the ET step by monitoring the formation of the radical DMA cation. The formation time is 16 ps in agreement with the 14 ps decay of C314*. The recombination dynamics of DMA+ plus C314- was determined to be 163 ps from the observation of the DMA+ SHG signal.     

On the kinetics of nanoparticle self-assembly at liquid/liquid interfaces

We investigate the concentration and size dependent self-assembly of cadmium selenide nanoparticles at an oil/water interface. Using a pendant drop tensiometer, we monitor the assembly kinetics and evaluate the effective diffusion coefficients following changes in the interfacial tension for the early and late stages of nanoparticle adsorption. Comparison with the coefficients for free diffusion reveals the energy barrier for particle segregation to the interface. The formation of a nanoparticle monolayer at the oil/water interface is characterised by transmission electron microscopy.     

Reversible voltage-induced assembly of au nanoparticles at liquid/liquid interfaces

The voltage-induced assembly of mercaptosuccinic acid-stabilized Au nanoparticles of 1.5 +/- 0.4 nm diameter is investigated at the polarizable water/1,2-dichloroethane interface. Admittance measurements and quasi-elastic laser scattering (QELS) studies reveal that the surface concentration of the nanoparticle at the liquid/liquid boundary is reversibly controlled by the applied bias potential. The electrochemical and optical measurements provide no evidence of irreversible aggregation or deposition of the particles at the interface. Analysis of the electrocapillary curves constructed from the dependence of the frequency of the capillary waves on the applied potential and bulk particle concentration indicates that the maximum particle surface density is 3.8 x 10(13) cm(-2), which corresponds to 67% of a square closed-pack arrangement. This system provides a unique example of reversible assembly of nanostructures at interfaces, in which the density can be effectively tuned by the applied potential bias.     

Electrochemical heparin sensing at liquid/liquid interfaces and polymeric membranes

The monitoring of heparin and its derivatives in blood samples is important for the safe usage of these anticoagulants and antithrombotics in many medical procedures. Such an analytical task is, however, highly challenging due to their low therapeutic levels in the complex blood matrix, and it still relies on classical, indirect, clot-based assays. Here we review recent progress in the direct electrochemical sensing of heparin and its analogs at liquid/liquid interfaces and polymeric membranes. This progress has been made by utilizing the principle of electrochemical ion transfer at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) to voltammetrically drive the interfacial transfer of polyanionic heparin and monitoring the resulting ionic current as a direct measure of heparin concentration. The sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility of the ion-transfer voltammetry of heparin are dramatically enhanced compared to those of traditional potentiometry. This voltammetric principle was successfully applied for the detection of heparin in undiluted blood samples, and was used to develop highly sensitive ion-selective electrodes based on thin polymeric membranes that are intended for analytical applications beyond heparin detection. The mechanism of heparin recognition and transfer at liquid/liquid interfaces was assessed quantitatively via sophisticated micropipet techniques, which aided the development of a powerful ionophore that can extract large heparin molecules into nonpolar organic media. Moreover, the reversible potentiometric detection of a lethal heparin-like contaminant in commercial heparin preparations was achieved through the use of a PVC membrane doped with methyltridodecylammonium chloride, which enables charge density dependent polyanion selectivity.     

Reactivity of monolayer-protected gold nanoclusters at dye-sensitized liquid/liquid interfaces

Hexanethiolate monolayer-protected gold nanoclusters (MPCs) were used as redox quenchers at the polarizable water/1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) interface. Photocurrent responses originating from the heterogeneous quenching of photoexcited water soluble porphyrin complexes by MPCs dissolved in the DCE phase were observed. As MPCs can function as both electron acceptors and donors, the photocurrent results from the superposition of two simultaneous processes, which correspond to the oxidation and reduction of MPCs. The magnitude of the net photocurrent is essentially determined by the balance of the kinetics of these two processes, which can be controlled by tuning the Galvani potential difference between the two phases. We show that, within the available potential window, the apparent electron-transfer rate constants follow classical Butler-Volmer dependence on the applied potential difference.     

Adsorption of frothers at coal/water interfaces

The adsorption of phenol and three commonly used frothers, namely, terpineol, methylisobutylcarbinol (MIBC) and cresol, on coal surfaces has been studied through UV spectrophotometric and gas chromatographic techniques. The rate of attaining adsorption equilibrium of these alcohols onto coal is very slow, possibly due to pore diffusion. The adsorption isotherms are of typical Langmuir-type except for MIBC, where the adsorption density rises linearly with equilibrium concentration in solution in the range of concentration under study. Free energies of adsorption were calculated from the adsorption isotherms. The results indicate that adsorption occurs through hydrophobic interactions between the frother molecules and the coal surface. The effect of oxidation and pH on adsorption behavior was also studied. Oxidized coal is more hydrophilic and hence the adsorption of these nonionic surface-active agents is reduced after oxidation.     

Protein folding at emulsion oil/water interfaces

It has long been known that proteins change their conformation upon adsorption to emulsion oil/water interfaces. However, it is only recently that details of the specifics of these structural changes have emerged. The development of synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD), combined with advances in FTIR spectroscopy, has allowed the secondary and tertiary structure of proteins adsorbed at emulsion oil/water interfaces to be studied. SRCD in particular has provided quantitative information and has enabled new insights into the mechanisms and forces driving protein structure re-arrangement to be achieved.The extent of conformational re-arrangement of proteins at emulsion interfaces is influenced by several factors including; the inherit flexibility of the protein, the distribution of hydrophobic/hydrophilic domains within the protein sequence and the hydrophobicity of the oil phase. In general, proteins lose much of their tertiary structure upon adsorption to the oil/water interface and have considerable amounts of non-native secondary structure. Two key conformations have been identified in the structure of proteins at interfaces, intermolecular β-sheet and α-helix. The preferred conformation appears to be the α-helix which is the most compact amphipathic conformation at the oil/water interface. The polarity of the oil phase can have a considerable influence on the degree of protein conformational re-arrangement because it acts as a solvent for hydrophobic amino acids. The new conformation of proteins at interfaces also means that proteins undergo less heat induced re-arrangement at interfaces than in solution. Different conformations of proteins at interfaces impact on emulsification capability, emulsion stability and protein/emulsion digestion. Hence advances in the understanding of protein conformation at interfaces can help to identify suitable proteins and conditions for the preparation of emulsion based food products.     

Surface vibrational structure at alkane liquid/vapor interfaces

Broadband vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS) has been used to examine the surface structure of alkane liquid/vapor interfaces. The alkanes range in length from n-nonane (C(9)H(20)) to n-heptadecane (C(17)H(36)), and all liquids except heptadecane are studied at temperatures well above their bulk (and surface) freezing temperatures. Intensities of vibrational bands in the CH stretching region acquired under different polarization conditions show systematic, chain length dependent changes. Data provide clear evidence of methyl group segregation at the liquid/vapor interface, but two different models of alkane chain structure can predict chain length dependent changes in band intensities. Each model leads to a different interpretation of the extent to which different chain segments contribute to the anisotropic interfacial region. One model postulates that changes in vibrational band intensities arise solely from a reduced surface coverage of methyl groups as alkane chain length increases. The additional methylene groups at the surface must be randomly distributed and make no net contribution to the observed VSF spectra. The second model considers a simple statistical distribution of methyl and methylene groups populating a three dimensional, interfacial lattice. This statistical picture implies that the VSF signal arises from a region extending several functional groups into the bulk liquid, and that the growing fraction of methylene groups in longer chain alkanes bears responsibility for the observed spectral changes. The data and resulting interpretations provide clear benchmarks for emerging theories of molecular structure and organization at liquid surfaces, especially for liquids lacking strong polar ordering.     

Electroless deposition of palladium at bare and templated liquid/liquid interfaces

A simple, electroless approach to metallize the liquid/liquid interface is reported. The method is illustrated with the deposition of Pd at the bare water/1,2-dichloroethane interface, and for the "templated" deposition of Pd within the 100 nm diameter pores of gamma-alumina membranes.