SURFACTANTS, Processes in solutions and at the interfaces

The part of investigations concerning colloid and interfacial chemistry comprises investigations of single and complex systems with surfactants. Within broad area of surfactant chemistry our research interests are primarily focused on the relation between surfactant molecular structure and physico-chemical processes in aqueous solutions and in the solid state. The main goal is to gain more understanding of the molecular factors that govern association and adsorption processes, and phase behavior in systems with surfactants.

The part of investigations concerning radiation and photochemistry comprises investigations of kinetics and reaction mechanisms of free radicals and excited states produced in solutions and micellar systems.

The main research topics:

(i)                  Investigations of molecular factors that govern adsorption, self-association and precipitation processes in single and complex surfactant systems. Model complex systems are mixtures of oppositely charged surfactants, bile salt/surfactant, and surfactant/biopolymer.

(ii)                Investigation of structure and thermal solid phase transitions of surfactant crystals (polymorphism, thermotropic liquid crystals).

(iii)               Investigation of processes at inorganic/organic interfaces which control nucleation and growth of biominerals.

(iv)              Investigations of physico-chemical properties of free radicals and molecules in excited states.

(v)                Investigations of kinetics and reaction mechanisms of free radicals and excited molecules in solutions and micellar systems.

Equipment: interfacial tensiometer, spinning drop tensiometer, ion-analyser, light-scattering laser analyser, microelectrophoresis, light microscopy equipped with hot stage and camera, conductometer, viscometer, laser flash photolysis, ionic chromatograph.