Interfacial Structure Research Articles

A superlattice interface and S-scheme heterojunction for ultrafast charge separation and transfer in photocatalytic H2 evolution

The rapid recombination of photoinduced charge carriers in semiconductors fundamentally limits their application in photocatalysis. Herein, we report that a superlattice interface and S-scheme heterojunction based on Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanorods can significantly promote ultrafast charge separation and transfer. Specifically, the axially distributed zinc blende/wurtzite superlattice interfaces in Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanorods can redistribute photoinduced charge carriers more effectively when boosted by homogeneous internal electric fields and promotes bulk separation. Accordingly, S-scheme heterojunctions between the Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanorods and MnWO4 nanoparticles can further accelerate the surface separation of charge carriers via a heterogeneous internal electric field. Subsequent capture of the photoelectrons by adsorbed H2O is as fast as several picoseconds which results in a photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 54.4 mmol·g−1·h−1 without any cocatalyst under simulated solar irradiation. The yields are increased by a factor of ~5 times relative to control samples and an apparent quantum efficiency of 63.1% at 420 nm is measured. This work provides a protocol for designing synergistic interface structure for efficient photocatalysis.

Interface‐Induced Anomalous Behavior of Magnetism in FexGeTe2/Pt Bilayer

AbstractInterface engineering is a promising strategy for controlling the Curie temperature (Tc) and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in magnetic 2D van der Waals (2D vdWs)‐based heterostructures. However, establishing high‐quality interface structures in magnetic 2D vdWs/metal stacks, crucial for maximizing interface effects, remains a significant challenge. Here, a Fe5‐xGeTe2/Pt (F5GT/Pt) prototype with a superior interface quality is achieved using a low‐power physical vapor deposition technique. The magnetic properties of the F5GT/Pt heterostructures are strongly influenced by employing the specific physical deposition method. Stable ferromagnetism at 400 K is observed when depositing Pt atoms with relatively high energy, despite the Tc of pristine F5GT being below 300 K. This unexpected high‐temperature ferromagnetism is attributed to the formation of a ferromagnetic alloy at the interface, commonly present in vdWs‐based stacks fabricated through physical deposition but often overlooked. The deposit of Pt atoms with ultralow energy leads to the formation of a unique Fe5‐xGeTe2/Fe3‐xGeTe2 heterojunction at the interface, significantly enhancing the PMA. This work emphasizes the importance of interface structures in vdWs‐based devices, suggesting that controlling the growth process offers an effective approach to construct and engineer vdWs heterostructures, thus improving the performance and introducing new functionalities to spintronic devices.

Surface‐Interface Engineering of Electrocatalysts for Two‐Electron Water Oxidation Reaction to Produce H2O2

AbstractElectrochemical two‐electron water oxidation reaction (2e− WOR) driven by renewable energy offers an attractive route to produce H2O2, while the corresponding electrocatalyst still requires further improvement for the activity, selectivity, and the resulting H2O2 yield. Surface‐interface engineering of electrocatalysts has great potential to advance 2e− WOR performance. This review provides a succinct yet comprehensive insight into the functional mechanisms of surface‐interfacial properties affecting 2e− WOR performance on electrocatalyst. The Gibbs free energy theoretical framework related to surface electronic structure and interfacial reactive kinetics mechanism related to electrolyte, electrode–electrolyte interface structure, and interfacial microenvironment properties are firstly discussed. Afterward, various surface‐interface engineering strategies toward high performance electrocatalysts including the regulation of surface electronic structure, the electrode–electrolyte interface structure, and the interfacial microenvironment have been overviewed. Rational manipulations of the above surface‐interfacial engineering strategies are critical to design highly efficient 2e− WOR electrocatalysts, leading to the development of the green H2O2 production.

Recalibration of MARTINI-3 Parameters for Improved Interactions between Peripheral Proteins and Lipid Bilayers.

The MARTINI force field is one of the most used coarse-grained models for biomolecular simulations. Many limitations of the model including the protein-protein overaggregation have been improved in its latest version, MARTINI-3. In this study, we investigate the efficacy of the MARTINI-3 parameters for capturing the interactions of peripheral proteins with model plasma membranes. Particularly, we consider two classes of proteins, namely, annexin and epsin, which are known to generate negative and positive membrane curvatures, respectively. We find that current MARTINI-3 parameters are not able to correctly describe the protein-membrane interface and the protein-induced membrane curvatures for any of these proteins. The problem arises due to the lack of proper hydrophobic interactions between the protein residues and lipid tails. Making systematic adjustments, we show that a combination of reduction in the protein-water interactions and enhancement of protein-lipid hydrophobic interactions is essential for accurate prediction of the interfacial structure including the protein-induced membrane curvature. Next, we apply our model to a couple of other peripheral proteins, namely, Snf7, a core component of the ESCRT-III complex, and the PH domain of evectin-2. We find that our model captures the protein-membrane interfacial structure much more accurately than the MARTINI-3 model for all of the peripheral proteins considered in this study. However, the strategy described in this study may not be suitable for oligomeric transmembrane proteins where protein-protein hydrophobic interactions should be increased instead of protein-lipid hydrophobic interactions.

Stabilizing 4.6 V LiCoO2 via Surface‐to‐Bulk Titanium Modification

AbstractElevating the charging cut‐off voltage is an effective strategy to increase the energy density of LiCoO2. However, unstable interfacial structures and unfavorable phase transitions in bulk are inevitably triggered during deep de‐lithiation at high voltage. Herein, an integrated surface‐to‐bulk Ti‐modification strategy is applied to LiCoO2, enabling uniform Li2TiO3 coating on the surface and gradient Ti‐doping toward the structural bulk. The resultant Ti‐modified LiCoO2 (T‐LCO) electrode can be stably cycled up to 4.6 V, providing a high‐rate capability of 137 mAh g−1 at 5C and a long‐life stability with 80.5% capacity retention after 400 cycles at 1C, far outperforming the unmodified LiCoO2 electrode with only 50.7% capacity retention. In situ X‐ray diffraction characterization and density functional theory calculation reveal that the synergistic modification of T‐LCO enhances Li+ diffusion, facilitates the construction of high‐quality cathode/electrolyte interphase, reduces the phase transition from O3 to H1‐3 and Co3d/O2p band overlap, and restrains layer‐to‐spinel phase distortion, thus improving structural stability at 4.6 V. This work presents a “two birds one step” strategy to enhance the cycling stability and achievable capacity of high‐voltage LiCoO2 for developing high energy density lithium‐ion batteries.

Zn interlayer-induced modifications in interfacial structure and fracture behavior of Cyclic Hot-Pressed Mg/Al laminated composites

In this study, a new type of cyclic hot pressing technology was used to prepare magnesium-aluminum composites. In order to further simplify the process, the active zinc interlayer was introduced, and the interfacial bonding strength of Mg/Al LMCs was increased by 43.25%. The traditional Mg/Al LMCs interface is mainly composed of Mg-Al IMCs (β-Mg2Al3 and γ-Mg17Al12), in which the highly regular HCP-β phase leads to brittle fracture of the material. After adding zinc layer, the interface of the composites mainly presents Al-SS, η (MgZn2) and Mg-SS phases. During the preparation process, the solid solution treatment and aging treatment occurred at the composite interface, and a chain GPII zone was formed at the interface between Al-SS and η phase. This region is mainly composed of structurally unstable η′(Al-Mg-Zn), resulting in the GP II band becoming a region rich in lattice defects and a fracture source of the composite.

CORROSION BEHAVIOUR OF ADVANCED COMPOSITES CONTAINING SURFACE MODIFIED SIC AS REINFORCEMENT

The interface structure, micro-voids, pits, delamination, intermetallic compounds and internal stresses are the utmost critical factors influencing the corrosion performance of composite materials making them unsuitable for use in structural applications. One useful technique to control such adverse effect in composites is surface modification of the reinforcement. The present investigation involved the implementation of chemical techniques, particularly electroless plating (EP), to modify the surface of silicon carbide (SiC) particles by depositing a layer of nickel phosphorous (Ni-P) onto them. These plated SiC particles were subsequently employed in the production of Al/Ni-pSiC composites using the powder metallurgy (PM) method, with different weight percentages of plated SiC content ranging from 5% to 15%. The corrosion behaviour was assessed by potentio-dynamic polarization tests in 3.5% NaCl solution at room temperature. Results confirmed that AlNi-pSiC composites exhibit a greater resistance to pitting, in contrast to pure aluminium and Al/SiC composites without plating. The enhanced corrosion resistance in Al/Ni-pSiC composites can be attributed to strong interfacial bond, grain refinement, CTE difference, formation of Ni3Al, and reduced potential difference.

Stimulated Pickering emulsion stabilized by binary particles with contrasting wettability and trace surfactant

The investigationof self-assembled particle structures at fluid interfaces has gained considerable interest across various fields. In particular, Pickering emulsions (PEs) stabilized by binary particles co-assembling at these interfaces have attracted even more attention. To explore the self-assembly process of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic particles at oil–water (O/W) interfaces influenced by a trace amount of surfactant, a series of experiments were conducted. A small quantity (0.01 mmol·L−1) of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) was introduced, establishing a variable stable emulsion system with high salt tolerance, capable of withstanding up to 6 mol·L−1 NaCl, in synergism with the particles. The DTAB concentration required to stabilize the O/W emulsion with particles was as low as 0.001 mmol·L−1. The stability and type of the resulting emulsion could be adjusted by varying the ratio of hydrophobic to hydrophilic particle (R) or by modifying acid/base conditions. The systems exhibited robust cyclic acid/base regulated demulsification and phase inversion behavior, maintaining stability over at least 10 cycles. Results indicated that the stability and nature of the emulsion were influenced by the curvature of the interface formed by the self-assembled interfacial particle structures, arising from the competitive adsorption of both types of particles and trace surfactant. Further analysis revealed a correlation between interfacial curvature and the surface charges of the particles, which could be modulated through DTAB adsorption. This study elucidated the behavior of hydrophilic and hydrophobic particle self-assembly at interfaces, provided a straightforward strategy for co-preparing switchable emulsions using superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic particles, and expanded the range of amphiphilic particles available for producing PEs. This approach presents significant potential for future research and applications in the field of PEs.

Engineering the interfacial hetero-structure for high-current-density hydrogen evolution

Modulating the hetero-structures with abundant interfaces in catalyst is a feasible but challenging strategy to improve the catalytic performance. In this work, a highly efficient catalyst (R-CoMoOx/Ni (Co)) was prepared with plentiful interfacial structures to accelerate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which contained both reduced CoO and MoO2 as a R-CoMoOx substrate and metallic Ni (Co) particles as the catalytic center. The combination of CoO and MoO2 with a Co-O-Mo local structure in R-CoMoOx led to an electron-enriched Co center to catch the dissociated H+, while the abundant interfacial interaction between R-CoMoOx and Ni (Co) could accelerate the charge transfer and then facilitate the production of H2 through a fast Volmer-Tafel pathway. As a result, the integrated R-CoMoOx/Ni (Co) catalyst could drive alkaline HER with ultra-low overpotentials of 16 mV for 10 mA cm−2 (25 °C) and 186 mV for 1000 mA cm−2 (60 °C), respectively, with a good stability over 100 h. Moreover, by coupling with RuO2 electrode in an anion exchange membrane system, it could achieve 1000 mA cm−2 at 1.78 V for overall water splitting with a high energy conversion efficiency of 70.4 %. The H2 production cost at 1000 mA cm−2 was merely $ 0.952 per gasoline gallon equivalent, much less than the target cost of the US Department of Energy.

Interfacial structure modification and enhanced emulsification stability of microalgae protein through interaction with anionic polysaccharides

Microalgae protein (MP) have emerged as a focal point of research within food processing due to its nutritional value and foaming properties. However, its isoelectric point around pH 4 leads to it susceptible to collision, binding, and precipitation. Additionally, MP has poor emulsification properties and only shows stability under strongly alkaline conditions. This study investigated the effects of food-grade anionic polysaccharides (guar gum (GG), gum arabic (GA), low acyl gellan gum (LG), and pectin (PT)) on the molecular structure and emulsification properties of MP. Results indicated that these anionic polysaccharides enhanced the UV absorption of MP near 620 nm, especially at 14 % content, while fluorescence intensity decreased due to amino acid residues masking without structural changes. The addition of polysaccharides resulted in bimodal or multimodal particle size distributions, with LG and PT showing larger particle sizes. At pH 4, negatively charged polysaccharides formed stable complexes with near-neutral MP, improving solution stability via electrostatic repulsion and diminishing turbidity. The droplet distribution analysis indicated that higher anionic polysaccharide ratios (1:4, 1:2, and 1:1) correlated with smaller droplet sizes and increased emulsion stability. Zeta-potential measurements revealed negative charges for emulsions, with LG-MP and PT-MP complexes displaying higher absolute values (15.0 to 20.7 mV) compared to GG-MP and GA-MP complexes, indicating superior stability. Storage stability analysis showed that LG-MP and PT-MP complexes stabilized emulsions had minimal delamination over two weeks. Rheological assessments showed that increasing GG and GA contents from 14 % to 50 % had negligible effects on apparent viscosity, while LG-MP (1:1) complexes stabilized emulsion displayed higher viscosity compared to PT-MP emulsions. Frequency sweep results showed that GG-MP, GA-MP, and LG-MP emulsions had greater elastic moduli (G') than viscous moduli (G"), indicating elastic behavior, whereas PT-MP emulsions transitioned from liquid-like to solid-like behavior as frequency increased. This study illustrates the advantages of high LG and PT content in preventing particle aggregation and enhancing emulsion stability, providing a theoretical and practical foundation for MP applications in food processing.

Atomic-scale insights into the microstructure and interface evolution mechanism of copper/tantalum nanofilms during ultra-precision grinding

The copper (Cu)/tantalum (Ta) nanofilms are the vital component in the through silicon via (TSV) wafer. However, the current lack of research on the ultra-precision machining of Cu/Ta nanofilms limits the development of TSV-based 3D integration technologies. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to reveal the microstructure and interface evolution mechanism of Cu/Ta nanofilms during nano-grinding under various grinding depths. The results show that the material removal mode differs between the Cu and Ta layers, and the thickness of the subsurface damage layer of the Cu layer is greater than that of the Ta layer. The Cu/Ta interface is well stabilized, and small amounts of micro-defects appear only at larger grinding depths after grinding. The lattice mismatch of the constituent layers and the hindering role by the interface lead to stress concentration at the interface, and it is more obvious with increasing grinding depth. Nevertheless, there is a significant stress release after grinding. Our computations indicate that the competition between the evolution of interfacial structures and discrepancies in the physical properties of constituent layers leads to an increase in grinding forces at the interface. Furthermore, the heat transfer is obstructed by the Cu/Ta interface. This study provides valuable insights into the grinding mechanisms of Cu/Ta nanofilms, which is conducive to further improving the manufacturing process of the TSV wafer and enhancing the performance of microelectronic devices.

Correlation of interface structure and optical properties of Ga(N,As) and Ga(As,Bi) based type-II hetero structures

Correlation of interface structure and optical properties of Ga(N,As) and Ga(As,Bi) based type-II hetero structures

Influence of Substrate Polarity on Thermal Stability, Grain Growth and Atomic Interface Structure of Au Thin Films on ZnO Surfaces

Influence of Substrate Polarity on Thermal Stability, Grain Growth and Atomic Interface Structure of Au Thin Films on ZnO Surfaces

A Rechargeable Urea‐Assisted Zn‐Air Battery With High Energy Efficiency and Fast‐Charging Enabled by Engineering High‐Energy Interfacial Structures

AbstractElectrochemical urea oxidation reaction (UOR) offers a promising alternative to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in clean energy conversion and storage systems. Nickel‐based catalysts are regarded as highly promising electrocatalysts for the UOR. However, their effectiveness is significantly hindered by the unavoidable self‐oxidation reaction of nickel species during UOR. To address this challenge, we proposed an interface chemistry modulation strategy to boost UOR kinetics by creating a high‐energy interfacial heterostructure. This heterostructure incorporates Ag at the CoOOH@NiOOH heterojunction interface, where strong interactions significantly promote the electron exchanges at the heterojunction interface between ‐OH and ‐O groups. Consequently, the improved electron delocalization leads to the formation of stronger bonds between Co sites and urea CO(NH2)2, promoting a preference for urea to occupy Co active sites over OH*. The resulting catalyst, Ag−CoOOH@NiOOH, demonstrates ultrahigh UOR activity with a low potential of 1.33 V at 100 mA cm−2. The fabricated catalyst exhibits a mass activity over 11.9 times greater than the initial cobalt oxyhydroxide. The rechargeable urea‐assisted zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) achieve a record‐breaking energy efficiency of 74.56 % at 1 mA cm−2, remarkable durability (1000 hours at a current density of 50 mA cm−2), and quick charge performances.

Regulating surface terminals and interlayer structure of Ti3C2Tx for superior NH3 sensing

MXene materials have exhibited potential in electrochemistry, particularly in gas sensing, due to their excellent conductivity, large specific surface area of layered materials, and unique functional groups. However, the gas sensing performance of intrinsic 2D MXene materials is often limited by their fluorine-containing terminals and interfacial structure. In this study, based on intrinsic Ti3C2Tx, we employed alkali treatment and annealing to prepare oxygen-rich Ti3C2(OH)x/Ti3C2Ox with expanded interlayer spacing, achieving enhanced gas sensing performance for NH3. The surface chemistry and structure of the sensing materials have been optimized through the synergistic regulation of MXene's unique surface terminations and the intercalation effect of layered materials. Compared to intrinsic Ti3C2Tx, the interlayer spacing of oxygen-rich Ti3C2(OH)x/Ti3C2Ox increased from 9.1 Å to 12.1 Å. The surface terminations of oxygen-rich Ti3C2(OH)x/Ti3C2Ox have been defluorinated and oxygenated. The maximum response value of oxygen-rich Ti3C2(OH)x/Ti3C2Ox to NH3 was 35.66, approximately twice that of the original Ti3C2Tx at an NH3 concentration of 200 ppm. DFT (Density functional theory) calculations and DRIFT (In situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy) tests explained the interaction between the surface terminals and NH3, indicating good selectivity and sensitivity of oxygen-rich Ti3C2(OH)x/Ti3C2Ox to NH3. The results demonstrated that the synergistic effects of surface chemistry and structural engineering are crucial for MXene to optimize the electrochemical performance, particularly the gas sensing performance. This provides a feasible approach for the performance optimization of intrinsic MXene materials.

A Rechargeable Urea-Assisted Zn-Air Battery With High Energy Efficiency and Fast-Charging Enabled by Engineering High-Energy Interfacial Structures.

Electrochemical urea oxidation reaction (UOR) offers a promising alternative to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in clean energy conversion and storage systems. Nickel-based catalysts are regarded as highly promising electrocatalysts for the UOR. However, their effectiveness is significantly hindered by the unavoidable self-oxidation reaction of nickel species during UOR. To address this challenge, we proposed an interface chemistry modulation strategy to boost UOR kinetics by creating a high-energy interfacial heterostructure. This heterostructure incorporates Ag at the CoOOH@NiOOH heterojunction interface, where strong interactions significantly promote the electron exchanges at the heterojunction interface between -OH and -O groups. Consequently, the improved electron delocalization leads to the formation of stronger bonds between Co sites and urea CO(NH2)2, promoting a preference for urea to occupy Co active sites over OH*. The resulting catalyst, Ag-CoOOH@NiOOH, demonstrates ultrahigh UOR activity with a low potential of 1.33 V at 100 mA cm-2. The fabricated catalyst exhibits a mass activity over 11.9 times greater than the initial cobalt oxyhydroxide. The rechargeable urea-assisted zinc-air batteries (ZABs) achieve a record-breaking energy efficiency of 74.56 % at 1 mA cm-2, remarkable durability (1000 hours at a current density of 50 mA cm-2), and quick charge performances.

Hierarchical hollow MnO/carbon fiber@WS2 composite material exhibits strong wideband electromagnetic wave attenuation

Constructing multi-layer heterogeneous interfaces has been studied as one of the important means to optimize electromagnetic wave absorption performance. WS2, as a special layered material with high specific surface area and multiple anionic vacancies, although its multi-layered interface structure cannot meet the requirements of all absorbing materials, composite absorbers designed through composition and structure are undoubtedly not one of the strategies to improve absorption bandwidth. In this study, we utilized the defect rich characteristics of WS2 Nano flowers and designed a multi-layer core–shell MnO/CF@WS2 (H-MCW) hybrid materials using carbon fiber (CF) as a carrier to provide a carbon source. The core cavity of H-MCW is conducive to multiple scattering of electromagnetic waves, with a large number of defects leading to an increase in electrochemical active sites in the material, and enhanced dipoles helping to improve impedance matching. This work provides a new method for designing lightweight thin film absorbing materials.

Diclofenac recovery by means of using Emulsion Liquid Membranes: A possible role of surfactant in the mass transfer process

Emulsion Liquid Membranes (ELM) are a useful method for drug extraction in aqueous solution, as they allow their recovery in a highly concentrated acceptor phase after passing through a membrane phase with a high surface area. The success of this process depends on system formulation and operation conditions. One of the most important aspects in the formulation is the addition of a surfactant that stabilizes the system, which can also participate in the mass transfer process. Recently, resistance to mass transfer caused by the use of polymeric surfactants, such as Abil® EM 90, has been reported. To verify this phenomenon observed in previous studies, the effect of various factors on the recovery of diclofenac (DCF) dissolved in an aqueous medium was analyzed using the ELM technique. The study concluded that using a membrane consisting of Abil® EM 90 (2 % w/V), trioctylamine (5 % w/V), and dodecane, along with a stripping phase formed by NaOH (0.10 mol/L), results in successful DCF removal. When emulsified at 15,000 rpm for 10 minutes at room temperature, it is possible to remove over 99 % of DCF after 15 minutes and recover 18.45 % after 30 min. Furthermore, it was determined that the action of the surfactant is the main cause of the resistance to the passage of DCF to the internal phase and its retention in the organic phase, as had already been observed. This is probably due to strong intermolecular interactions between Abil ® EM 90 and DCF and the formation of a complex and stable interfacial structure, similar to a hydrated bilayer, which favors the rigidity of the interface and keeps the drug trapped. A better understanding of the role surfactants play in the system is essential for the future design of more efficient and stable ELMs. This knowledge will enable the adaptation of the technology to a wider range of processes, including drug recovery. As a result, the maximum benefits of this technology can be fully realized.

Reversible Antireflection Materials Inspired by Cicada Wings for Anticounterfeit and Photovoltaic Cells.

Antireflection (AR) surfaces are essential for the fields of flexible displays, photovoltaic industry, medical endoscope, intelligent windows, etc. Although natural creatures with well-organized micro/nanostructures have provided some coupling design principles for the rapid development of bioinspired AR materials, the mechanical vulnerability, poor flexibility, and nonadjustability have been pointed out as the drawback of these nanostructures. Here, a bioinspired reversible AR film with 4% reflectivity, 90% transmittance, and 9% haze in broadband (400-900 nm) was prepared. The flexible switching of AR performance enhancement and weakening throughout the visible wavelength band has been achieved by controlling the reversible change in the morphology of the interface structure. A variety of patterned film samples can be obtained by simply changing the template, which can be used in intelligent identification fields such as anticounterfeiting. The cycle test and photoelectric test show that the bionic reversible antireflection structure has certain stability and can effectively reduce the loss of photovoltaic cell conversion efficiency caused by mechanical deformation. It has broad application prospects in the fields of anticounterfeiting, intelligent window, flexible display, photoelectric element, and so on.

Rubisco at interfaces I: Conformational flexibility enhances air-water interface and foam stabilization

Rubisco exists in all green leaves and is the most abundant protein species on earth. Extraction methods can affect the molecular conformation of Rubisco, while its influence in the behavior of Rubisco at the air-water interface and foam stabilization is largely unknown. This work focuses on elucidating the role of the Rubisco molecular structure in stabilizing the air-water interface and the multiphase system of foam. Rubisco was extracted from spinach using ultrafiltration (RU) and acid precipitation-alkaline redispersion (RA), respectively. Protein molecular properties were evaluated using SDS-PAGE, DSC, fluorescence spectrometry, and size and zeta-potential measurements. Surface adsorption behavior was measured in the millisecond and longtime regime. Surface mechanical properties were assessed with large amplitude oscillatory dilatation (LAOD) and large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS), and LAOD results were analyzed by stress decomposition. Interfacial structures were characterized by imaging Langmuir-Blodgett films with atomic force microscopy. Protein foaming properties were evaluated by whipping. We found that RU was primarily native and more flexible than RA, which was fully denatured and aggregated. Consequently, RU diffused faster to air-water interface (576 ms) than RA (926 ms), and formed stiffer soft solid-like air-water interfaces (Gi’ = 56.7 mN/m; Ed’ = 98.2 mN/m) than RA (Gi’ = 39.6 mN/m; Ed’ = 84.3 mN/m). RU also formed denser and thicker surfaces with higher network connectivity than RA. These advantages endow RU with much higher foam stability (152 min half-life time) than RA (94 min). Our study reveals a clear relationship between the molecular conformation of Rubisco and its air-water interface and foam stabilization properties. It might also guide the development of improved extraction/treatment methods to obtain ideal molecular structures of proteins for foam stabilization.