Interfaces with Fluorinated Amphiphiles: Superstructures and Microfluidics

Abstract

The present mini-review discusses recent developments in research on interfacial phenomena of fluorinated amphiphiles, focusing on applications that exploit the unique and manifold interfacial properties associated with these amphiphiles. Most notably, fluorinated amphiphiles form stable aggregates with often distinctly different morphologies than their non-fluorinated counterparts. Consequently, fluorinated surfactants have found wide use in high-performance applications such as microfluidic-assisted screening. Additionally, their fluorine-specific behaviour at the solid/liquid interface, such as the formation of superhydrophobic coatings after deposition on surfaces, will be discussed. As fluorinated surfactants and perfluorinated materials in general pose potential environmental threats, recent developments in their remediation based on their adsorption onto fluorinated surfaces will be evaluated.