The research activity focuses on the characterisation and physico-chemical modelling of liquid-air and liquid-liquid interfaces in the presence of surfactant and other anphiphilic species, in relation to basic and applicative aspects. In more details, the activity concerns the following areas:

On top of the regular laboratory experimentation, a peculiar aspect of the research activity concerns the conceiving and utilisation of experiments under weightlessness conditions (microgravity), performed onboard the International Space Station, to deepen specific features in the dynamic behaviour of adsorption layers, emulsions, foams and liquid films.

• EXPERTISE:
  
  • Utilisation of surfactants in the control of the chemico-physical properties of liquid interfaces.
  • Methodologies for dynamic tensiometry and interfacial rheology of liquid interfaces and liquid films.
  • Modelling of transport phenomena and adsorption kinetics in systems containing surfactants and other anphihilic species.
  • Kinetics and thermodynamics of adsorption layers.
  • Formulation and characterisation of emulsions, foams and liquid films.
  • Design, development and support to experiments on liquid interfaces, emulsions and foams under weightlessness conditions (microgravity).

• OUTLOOKS:
  Owing to the ubiquity of liquid interfaces in technologies, products and in the natural world, the results of this research activity show a large potential for applications and for the comprehension o natural phenomena. More specifically, promising applications are concerned with:
  • Products containing emulsions and foams: oil emulsions and fuels, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, foods, inks and paints, etc.
  • Industrial technologies based on liquid interfaces: chemical technologies, separative processes, nanomaterial production (ex., assembling on droplets), multiphasic flows, spraying, etc.
  • Pollutants effect on liquid interfaces in the natural world: fresh waters, sea-atmosphere interface, sea aerosol, etc.
  • Innovative methodologies for pollutants monitoring based on interfacial properties.