Interfacial Chemistry of Structured Liquids over Solid Surfaces Studied with FM-AFM

Using advanced frequency modulation atomic force microscopy, the structure at solid-liquid interfaces was determined on well-controlled surfaces with sub-nanometer resolution. Site-specific structuring of interfacial water was found on the surfaces containing hydrophilic functional groups, dominated by the hydrogen bond interaction. Interfacial structure of liquid alcohols was subject to the competitive two interactions ; hydrogen bond interaction between OH groups and van der Waals interaction between alkyl chains.