Abstract
X-ray reflectivity (XR) and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, carried out to determine the structure of the oil-water interface, provide new insight into the simplest liquid-liquid interface. For several oils (hexane, dodecane, and hexadecane) the XR shows very good agreement with a monotonic interface-normal electron density profile (EDP) broadened only by capillary waves. Similar agreement is also found for an EDP including a sub-Å thick electron depletion layer separating the oil and the water. The XR and MD derived depletions are much smaller than reported for the interface between solid-supported hydrophobic monolayers and water.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 256102 |
Pages (from-to) | 256102 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 117 |
Issue number | 25 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 16 Dec 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2016 American Physical Society.