Dynamics of Lateral Processes at the Air/Water Interface

University Of California-Berkeley, Berkeley CA

Investigators

Abstract

With the support of the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, Professor Majda and his coworkers at the University of California-Berkeley are carrying out studies of lateral mass and proton transport at the air/water interface. These studies use electrochemical time-of-flight methods developed by Professor Majda, which are applied to model amphiphilic membranes. Information about the lateral diffusion of molecules at the air/water interface, the dynamic structure of water at the interface, and proton diffusion at the air/lipid/water interface is obtained in these studies. These interfacial transport processes are fundamental biological processes involved in membrane energy transduction and storage, and this research project provides important fundamental information about these processes. Using electrochemical transient methods, information about the lateral diffusion of molecules and protons at the air/water interface is obtained in this research project. Using Langmuir monolayers as models of biomembranes, detailed two-dimensional diffusion information is obtained in these studies. Proton transport information and diffusion constants are also of interest in many materials science applications such as battery and fuel cell technology.