CNIS Lab

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules with long hydrophobic chain and hydrophilic polar head, preferentially adsorb at the air/fluid or fluid-fluid interfaces, thereby reduces the surface/interfacial tension. The ability to reduce the surface/interfacial tension makes them ideal candidates for industrial applications such as emulsion and foam stabilizers in cosmetic industry, surface active agents in enhanced oil recovery surface modifiers in agrochemicals and coatings. Typically, nanoparticles (NPs) and inorganic salts are added to such systems to enhance the performance of the surfactants. Introduction of NPs and salt to the surfactant solution alter the adsorption mechanism and thermodynamic properties of ionic surfactant at the air-water interface. This project aims to study the effects of NPs and inorganic salt on the adsorption mechanism and thermodynamic properties of ionic and non-ionic surfactants.