Analytical Sciences

Orientation Analysis of a Nonionic Amphiphile at theWater-Surface by Second-Harmonic Generation

Uta ELSTNER*, Gerd MAROWSKY*, Gerhard BUSSE** and Manfred KAHLWEIT**

*Laser-Laboratorium Göttingen e.V., 37077Göttingen, Germany
**Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Abt. Kinetikder Phasenbildung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany

Second-harmonic generation and interfacial tension measurements have beenused to study the adsorption behavior of anonionic amphiphile,1-(3',5'-di-t-butyl)phenyl-3-glycero-rac-glycerin at anair/water interface. The tensor componentsof the nonlinear surface susceptibility of the amphiphile have beendetermined by polarization rotation of the incidentfundamental radiation. The comparison of the values of the several tensorcomponents allows the description of theadsorption and orientation behavior of the molecules at an air/waterinterface. (Keywords: Second-harmonic generation, nonionic amphiphile,second-order susceptibility, air/water interface)

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