Structured Water and Surface Potential at Charged Dielectric Interfaces
BIOENGINEERING SEMINAR
Abstract:
The interaction of molecules with natural and synthetic aqueous surfaces is a fundamental aspect of environment science, biology, and biomedical engineering. There is increasing evidence that the unique water structure and hydrogen bonding environment within the first nanometer of the surface may be largely responsible for driving those interactions. That microscopic region is also influenced by electrostatic interactions, even though the origin of the surface charge is not always clear. A further complication is that the water structure may be substantially different in the Stern and diffuse regions of the electrical double layer, thereby requiring nanoscale probes. While recent advances in plasmonics-based methods (such SERS, SHINERS or SEIRAS) have pushed the capabilities for detection of nano-structured water at metal surfaces, there are comparatively fewer methods suitable for the investigation of dielectric materials. This presentation will illustrate how our recently-developed angle-scanning nonlinear optical spectroscopy has the ability to offer a unique probe of interfacial water structure.
Bio:
Dennis Hore is a Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Computer Science at the University of Victoria, Canada. He has two research groups: one develops nonlinear optical techniques for studying molecular structure at solid-liquid interfaces - https://web.uvic.ca/~dkhore/. The other engages in community-based harm reduction, determining the composition and concentration of illicit drug mixtures for people who use drugs - https://substance.uvic.ca/.
Abstract:
The interaction of molecules with natural and synthetic aqueous surfaces is a fundamental aspect of environment science, biology, and biomedical engineering. There is increasing evidence that the unique water structure and hydrogen bonding environment within the first nanometer of the surface may be largely responsible for driving those interactions. That microscopic region is also influenced by electrostatic interactions, even though the origin of the surface charge is not always clear. A further complication is that the water structure may be substantially different in the Stern and diffuse regions of the electrical double layer, thereby requiring nanoscale probes. While recent advances in plasmonics-based methods (such SERS, SHINERS or SEIRAS) have pushed the capabilities for detection of nano-structured water at metal surfaces, there are comparatively fewer methods suitable for the investigation of dielectric materials. This presentation will illustrate how our recently-developed angle-scanning nonlinear optical spectroscopy has the ability to offer a unique probe of interfacial water structure.
Bio:
Dennis Hore is a Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Computer Science at the University of Victoria, Canada. He has two research groups: one develops nonlinear optical techniques for studying molecular structure at solid-liquid interfaces - https://web.uvic.ca/~dkhore/. The other engages in community-based harm reduction, determining the composition and concentration of illicit drug mixtures for people who use drugs - https://substance.uvic.ca/.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
- Sylvie Roke, Laboratory for fundamental BioPhotonics (LBP)