This award supports the participation of Prof. Clifford A. Bunton of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Prof. Laurence S. Romsted, of Rutgers University, in a program of cooperative research with Prof. Frank Quina of the University of Sao Paulo and Prof. Faruk J. Nome of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, aimed at determining the range of applicability of the Pseudophase Ion Exchange (PIE) model for certain effects in chemical reactions. Enhanced understanding of this model can be expected to lead to further advances in the chemistry of surface reactions. The PIE model, which describes the effect of ionic amphiphiles on the rates and equilibria of thermal surface reactions, fails in some cases probably because of certain assumptions about the structures and electrical properties of the surfaces on which the reaction takes place. All four research groups involved in this study are actively exploring surface charge density effects on counterion bonding and reactivity, and in various systems. Their complementary expertise will be used to study the limits of the PIE model. Each investigator will define a set of experiments using the systems in which he is expert, and test the model in these systems. Based upon the results of these experiments, improved models for the effect of aqueous interfaces on reactions and equilibria will be developed. The synergy to be exploited here is excellent and will result in considerable mutual benefit to the Brazilian and U.S. investigators.
