Organization of Water Layers at Hydrophilic Interfaces

Abstract

Difference in the vibes! The effect of divalent metal-cation absorption on the structure of water at aqueous interfaces was explored in the presence of deprotonated fatty acid monolayers. Vibrational spectra were obtained from charged monolayers in the presence of Zn2+ and Mg2+ ions using vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (see graphic). The differing modes of coordination by the two cations to the carboxylate headgroups led to significantly different water structures at the interfaces.