|
Using a wide arsenal of analytical
and simulation techniques, ranging from hydrodynamic
simulations over Green’s-functional approach
to quantum-chemistry ab-initio calculations, we
aim at understanding complex surfaces from a theoretical
point of view.
Typical research topics are:
- What is the microscopic water structure
at solid surfaces? This question is particularly
relevant since it has been shown recently that
ions (which are always present in aqueous solution)
do interact strongly and very specifically with
the interfacial water layer.
- How does the adsorption of peptides
and other bio-polymers depend on the surface
type? Here we are interested in understanding
the relation between the hydrophobicity of a
surface and the adhesive strength.
- What are the dynamic properties of
structured surfaces under the influence of external
driving fields, which could be for example lateral
applied electric fields (giving rise to phenomena
as electroosmosis or electrophoresis) or shear
flows. For example, it is known for a long time
that lateral electric fields drag the diffusely
bound counterions along and give rise to a characteristic
solvent flow profile. The strength of this electroosmotic
solvent flow does not come out correctly from
simple continuum theory, which means that the
detailed surface structure is important.
- D. Horinek, A. Serr, M. Geisler, T. Pirzer,
U. Slotta, S. Q. Lud, J. A. Garrido, T. Scheibel,
T. Hugel, R. R. Netz (2008). Peptide adsorption
on a hydrophobic surface results from an interplay
of solvation, surface and intrapeptide forces.
PNAS, 105, 2842.
- D. Horinek and R.R. Netz (2007). Specific
Ion Adsorption at Hydrophobic Solid Surfaces.
Physical Review Letters 99, 226104.
- C. Sendner and R. Netz (2008). Shear-induced
repulsion of a semiflexible polymer from a wall.
Europhysics Letters 81, 54006.
|
