Project description DEENESFRITPL Probing the multiscale structure-property relationships of foam liquid-gas interfaces Foams, dispersions of gas bubbles in a liquid, have numerous applications, including insulation, packaging and cushioning. Enhancing the control over foam’s molecular structure and properties relies on intricate knowledge of the phenomena at the liquid-gas interface. These include electrostatic interactions that can be modified by adding different mixtures of surface-active molecules, such as proteins, surfactants and polyelectrolytes, and by adjusting electrolyte properties. The European Research Council-funded SUPERFOAM project will characterise the molecular structures and dynamics of aqueous interfaces in foams using nonlinear optical spectroscopy and other surface-sensitive probes. Insight will be used to predict structure-property relationships at larger length scales, enhancing tailor-made design for functionality. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Foams are of enormous importance as we find them in many technological relevant applications and food products. Foams as hierarchical materials are dominated by the arrangement and distri-bution of gas bubbles on a macroscopic scale, as well as by thickness and composition of lamella on a mesoscopic scale. Liquid-gas interfaces are, however, the building block of foam with over-whelming importance as their molecular properties easily dominate hierarchical elements on larger length scales. In order to formulate foam with specific properties, its structure must be controlled at the molecular level of a liquid-gas interface. Here, the molecular composition, molecular order and interactions such as electrostatics dominate, and thus must be addressed with molecular level probes that can provide access to both interfacial solvent and solute molecules. Specifically, mo-lecular structures of aqueous interfaces can be modified by adding different mixtures of surface active molecules such as proteins, surfactants and polyelectrolytes, and by adjusting electrolyte properties. This is achieved by varying pH, introducing ions at different ionic strengths as well as by changing viscosities. Such model systems will be characterized with nonlinear optical spectroscopy amongst other surface sensitive probes. The gained information will be used to deduce properties of structures on larger length scales such as lamella, bubbles in a bulk liquid - as a precursor of foam - and finally macroscopic foam. For each length scale, experiments will be performed to gain access to molecular buildings blocks at liquid-gas interfaces and their effects on other hierarchical elements. These experiments thus provide essential information on foam stability and bubble coalescence, they can be used to verify structure-property relationships and to advance our understanding of foam on a molecular basis. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicssoft matter physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesmolecular and chemical physicsengineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologymolecular engineeringnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopynatural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-StG-2014 - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER Net EU contribution € 1 147 569,96 Address SCHLOSSPLATZ 2 48149 MUENSTER Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Münster Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 147 569,96 Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER Germany Net EU contribution € 1 147 569,96 Address SCHLOSSPLATZ 2 48149 MUENSTER See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Münster Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 147 569,96 FRIEDRICH-ALEXANDER-UNIVERSITAET ERLANGEN-NUERNBERG Participation ended Germany Net EU contribution € 352 305,04 Address SCHLOSSPLATZ 4 91054 Erlangen See on map Region Bayern Mittelfranken Erlangen, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 352 305,04