Confinement Effects on Molecular Mechanics and Structure of the Liquid Layers at Solid-Liquid Interface

Abstract Liquid layer structuring occurs at the solid-liquid interface. Here we present an investigation of the confinement effects on the first layer adjacent to the solid surface in a nanopore. Compared to a thin film on a surface with free liquid-vapor interface, strong confinement effects were observed in relatively small nanopores, where only structured layers exist and the first layer is affected by both surfaces. The confinement effects are weak in relatively large pores, where bulk liquid exists and the first layer is affected by the adjacent surface only.