The Influence of Cohesive Imbalance Induced Dewetting on Hydrophobic Solvation and Association Equilibria

Purdue University, West Lafayette IN

Investigators

Abstract

In this award, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. Dor Ben-Amotz of Purdue University and his graduate research students will study the aqueous solvation of hydrophobic species with a combined experimental and theoretical study. The aim of the program is to critically test aspects of recent theories on solvation that emphasize the importance of solvent expulsion around non-polar molecules (dewetting). The results of these studies should help to explain a broad variety of important processes: from the formation of biological membranes to self-assembly, molecular recognition, chemical separation and environmental remediation. Besides the broad impact of the research on several areas of science, Prof. Ben-Amotz will continue to provide his research students with excellent training in experimental as well as theoretical methods.