title: Influence of Water on the Interfacial Nanostructure and Wetting of [Rmim][NTf2] Ionic Liquids at Mica Surfaces.
abstract: The effect of water concentration on the interfacial nanostructure and wetting behavior of a family of ionic liquids (ILs), 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, [Rmim][NTf2], at the surface of mica was investigated by contact angle measurement and atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM reveals that interfacial layers of ILs observed at the surface of mica for "dry" ILs are not present for water-saturated ILs. The interaction of the IL ions of [Rmim][NTf2] with water molecules through hydrogen bonding is suspected to disrupt IL ion layering and precursor film growth on mica. Without the IL precursor film, contact angle relaxation of "wet" ILs on mica is less significant and ambient vapor adsorption becomes more important in determining the macroscopic wetting behavior.
authors.affiliation: Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: Zhantao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Advanced Fluids and Interfaces, The University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Advanced Fluids and Interfaces, The University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atkin
authors.affiliation: Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Priest