Intermolecular interactions across the air−water interface are the basis for a variety of investigations
on monolayers and adsorption phenomena at the interface. We present a systematic study of the influence
of different anions in the aqueous subphase on the formation and stabilization of a monolayer of the
cationic amphiphile N-octadecyl-4-dimethylaminopyridinium. Some polyanions such as polystyrenesulfonate
in the subphase are shown to impart strong stability to the monolayer. The monolayer stabilization through
ionic complex formation at the air−water interface is modeled using semiempirical quantum chemical
computations. The significance of including solvation effects in the computations is highlighted.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.