Eur. Phys. J. E (2011) 34: 71
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2011-11071-2

Phase separation of a binary liquid in anodic aluminium oxide templates

A structural study by small angle neutron scattering

¹ Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, Rennes, France
² Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel, UMR CNRS 6502, Université de Nantes, 2 rue de la Houssinière, Nantes, France

^* e-mail: Ronan.Lefort@univ-rennes1.fr

Received: 3 January 2011
Accepted: 27 June 2011
Published online: 22 July 2011

Abstract

The radial nanostructure of the binary liquid triethylamine/water confined in 60 nm diameter independent cylindrical pores of anodic aluminium oxide membranes is studied by small angle neutron scattering. It is shown that composition inhomogeneities are present in the confined mixtures well below the bulk critical point. An analysis of the neutron scattering form factor reveals the existence of an adsorbed water layer of a few nanometers at the liquid/alumina interface, coexisting with a TEA-rich phase in the core.