X-ray Scattering Studies of Long-Chain Alkanol Monolayers at the Water-Hexane Interface

X-ray reflectivity and interfacial tension measurements demonstrate that long-chain alkanol monolayers at the water-hexane interface exhibit a well defined chain disorder and partial hexane mixing into the monolayer, in contrast to alkanol monolayers at the water-vapor interface that consist of close-packed rigid rod molecules. At the water-hexane interface triacontanol molecules form a condensed phase with progressive disordering of the chain from the -CH{sub 2}OH to the -CH{sub 3} group. At this interface the density in the head-group region is 10 to 15% greater than bulk water, an effect not seen for the ordered monolayer at the water-vapor interface. Monolayers of shorter length alkanols (consisting of 20, 22, and 24 carbons) and variations with temperature are also discussed.