A liquid/liquid interface excited by stimulation with water

An immiscible interface, which was composed of CaCl2 aqueous and ester phases, was excited by the addition of a small amount of water. The excitation, i.e., burst and flow at the interface, was observed above a critical concentration of CaCl2 in the aqueous phase. The critical concentration and degree of excitation depended on the kind of ester. The mechanism of excitation is discussed in relation to the interfacial tension and the Marangoni effect.

An excitable phenomenon is driven by the difference in concentration of an inorganic ion at the ester/aqueous interface.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide