title: Neutron and X-Ray Reflectivity Studies of the Adsorption of Aerosol-OT at the Air-Water Interface: The Structure of the Calcium Salt
abstract: We have used neutron and X-ray reflection to determine the structure of a layer of calcium bis-(2-ethyl 1-hexyl) sulphosuccinate (Aerosol-OT or AOT) adsorbed at the air/solution interface. The widths of the distributions of the chains and head groups of the molecule, and their positions in relation to the underlying water, have been measured at four concentrations varying from the solubility limit (CMC) at 4 x 10(-4) M to 1 x 10(-6) M. Over this concentration range the coverage changes from 68 &plusmn; 3 to 142 &plusmn; 8 &Aring;2 per AOT unit. The structure of the layer both is quite different from that of NaAOT and varies quite differently with surface concentration. The Ca(AOT)2 layer is slightly (1 &Aring;) further out from the water, but the chain region is thinner for the calcium surfactant. This is reflected most in the greatly reduced chain to head separation, which drops from about 6 &Aring; in NaAOT to about 4 &Aring; in Ca(AOT)2.
authors.affiliation: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penfold