Solid-liquid interface of a 2-propanol-perfluoromethylcyclohexane mixture: From adsorption to wetting

The liquid-solid interface between a silicon substrate and the binary mixture perfluoromethylcyclohexane (PFMC) and 2-propanol (IP) is examined by x-ray specular reflectivity and diffuse scattering under grazing angles. The wetting films between the PFMC-rich phase and the substrate are characterized with respect to the density profile and lateral fluctuations. We find that the liquid-liquid interface of the film is anomalously broadened as compared to capillary wave theory. This broadening is caused by a locally slow variation of the density between the liquid phases and marks an adsorption profile that does not reflect the bulk properties of the film phase. Essentially the same behavior is present for a fused silica substrate