Complex Interfaces

Forces, Dynamics & Rheology

The Israelachvili group is broadly interested in investigating molecular processes and structures at material interfaces and under confinement, including the surface forces they give rise to. Ultimately, this understanding is used to mechanistically describe a number of interfacial processes including lubrication, adhesion, friction and wear.

The Squires group has developed various techniques to probe the response of complex interfaces. Examples include the rheological response of surfactant-laden interfaces, with particular focus on disorders of the lung surfactant, the transient rheology of oil/water interfaces as surface-active species adsorb, multi-component and multiphase effects within surfactant monolayers, the dynamics of interfacial polymerization and other reacting interfaces.