Fluid Interfaces

Abstract

Fluid interfaces are promising candidates for confining different types of materials, for example, polymers, surfactants, colloids, or even small molecules, by direct spreading or self-assembly from solutions in the design of new functional materials. The development of such materials requires a deepening on the physico-chemical bases underlying the formation of layers at fluid interfaces, as well as on the characterization of their structures and properties. This is of particular importance, because the constrains associated with the assembly of materials at the interface lead to the emergence of equilibrium and dynamics features in the interfacial systems, which are far from those conventionally found in the traditional materials. These new properties are of importance in many scientific and technological fiels, such as food science, cosmetics, biology, oil recovery, electronic, drug delivey, detergency, and tissue engineering. Therefore, an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects involved in the preparation of these interfacial systems to improve on their usage for designing new technological systems are of paramount importance. This Special Issue is devoted to the fundamental and applied aspects involved in the study of fluid interfaces, with the aim of providing a comprehensive perspective on the current status of the research field. It is expected that this will help to provide a bridge between the most fundamental knowledge on fluid interface, and the development of new applications based on it, closing the gap between different views.