Experimental three-dimensional description of the liquid hexadecane/graphite interface

Langmuir. 2009 Jan 20;25(2):639-42. doi: 10.1021/la803665k.

Abstract

By using an atomic force microscope based on a quartz tuning fork sensor, a 3-dimensional description of the interface between liquid hexadecane and a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface can be achieved at room temperature. The C16H34 monolayer in contact with the substrate surface exhibits a lamellar structure whereas no observation at the liquid/graphite interface by scanning tunnelling microscopy was reported for this alkane. The second layer shows very weak corrugations corresponding to lamella boundaries. Force/distance curves show at least four oscillations separated by 0.4 nm except for the first period with a 0.38 nm distance that corresponds to the layer closer the substrate. Such a description agrees well with molecular dynamics results obtained on alkane/solid interfaces.

MeSH terms

  • Alkanes / chemistry*
  • Electrodes
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling
  • Quartz
  • Surface Properties
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Alkanes
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Quartz
  • Graphite
  • n-hexadecane