The air/aqueous interface was studied using vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) and phase-sensitive VSFG spectroscopy to elucidate interfacial organization of mono and divalent ions and their impact on water alignment. Monovalent and polarizable anions prefer the surface whereas monovalent relatively small countercations more often reside below the anion (sodium halide series: NaCl, NaBr, NaI). Divalent anions and cations prefer full solvation and thus do not reside preferentially in the surface/sub surface region although a lower surface charge density countercation distribution resides above a higher surface charge density anion ((NH4)2SO4, Na2SO4, and Na2CO3). Counter ion chaacteristics play a significant role in the distribution's surface propensity.

Award Address  (ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences sponsored by The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.). Water, ions, and organization at air/aqueous interfaces

245th National Meeting (2013)

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