Measuring molecular interactions in the solution phase using an optical microscope

Thesis

Interactions between charged molecules and surfaces in the fluid phase are ubiquitous in nature and central to intracellular and other physiological processes in complex aqueous milieus. Coulombic repulsions between charged objects, screened by mobile ions in solution play an important role in sustaining molecular stability against aggregation. However, the underlying interaction energies and their spatial properties are poorly understood due to a lack of experimental techniques that can prob...

Expand abstract

Authors: Mahanta, S

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-qmwqryqn1
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: soft-condensed matter; non-local Poisson Boltzmann theory; water; surface charge measurement; chemistry at solid-liquid interface; electrostatics at the solid-liquid interface; DLVO; zwitterions; electrostatics in electrolytes; molecule-surface interaction energy
• Subjects: Water; Fluorescence microscopy; Ionic solutions; Electrolytes; Electrostatics; Soft condensed matter; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical