The ILL joins the scientific community in celebrating the outstanding achievements of Regine von Klitzing, recipient of the Gentner-Kastler Prize 2025, awarded jointly by the German Physical Society (DPG) and the French Society of Physics (SFP). This prestigious award recognises von Klitzing’s remarkable contributions in soft matter physics and her pioneering use of neutrons to unravel complex interface phenomena – in particular through experiments at the ILL.
Regine von Klitzing's work focuses on the behaviour of complex liquids (such as polyelectrolyte solutions or microgel dispersions) at interfaces and in thin films. More recently, von Klitzing and her team have focused on investigating highly complex systems such as foams on different length scales.
Regine Von Klitzing’s research has demonstrated the unique power of neutron techniques – and of neutron reflectometry in particular - in pushing the boundaries of soft matter research. Through experiments conducted at ILL's FIGARO neutron reflectometer - which complement atomic force microscopy, X-ray, and light scattering techniques and provide an unprecedented look into interfacial structures - she has made significant developments in understanding polyelectrolyte/surfactant interactions at the air/water interface, with profound implications for both fundamental science and industrial applications.
Leveraging on neutron reflectometry data, von Klitzing’s research has provided a comprehensive framework for understanding foam film stability, bridging the gap between macroscopic properties - such as surface tension and elasticity - and microscopic structural features.
Important contributions were made to the challenging task of modelling foam data from small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Measurements were conducted on the SANS instrument D33 at the ILL. While SANS is ideal to explore the structures of dispersed systems on length scales ranging from one nanometre to about a micron, advanced analysis techniques are required to take the most out of data. Offering profound insights into foam structure and behaviour, these achievements have significant implications for a wide range of applications, from environmental sciences to personal care products.
Selected works
- A new model to describe small-angle neutron scattering from foams [link]
- New structural approach to rationalize the foam film stability of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures [link]
- Repulsive, but sticky – Insights into the non-ionic foam stabilization mechanism by superchaotropic nano-ions [link]
- Polymers and surfactants at fluid interfaces studied with specular neutron reflectometry [link]
- Insights into Extended Structures and Their Driving Force: Influence of Salt on Polyelectrolyte/Surfactant Mixtures at the Air/Water Interface [link]
- Surface Adsorption of Oppositely Charged C14TAB-PAMPS Mixtures at the Air/Water Interface and the Impact on Foam Film Stability [link]