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DOE OSTI2025

Exploring Phosphonium‐Based Anion Exchange Polymers for Moisture Swing Direct Air Capture of Carbon Dioxide

This study explores the performance and stability of ammonium and phosphonium-based polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) with methyl and butyl substituents in moisture-swing direct air capture of CO 2 . The polymers are synthesized with chloride counterions, followed by ion exchange to the bicarbonate ion, and tests for CO 2 capture capacity and stability under cyclic wet–dry conditions. The phosphonium polymer with methyl substituents [PVBT-MeP] demonstrates the highest CO 2 capture capacity at ≈510 µmol g⁻¹, attributed to minimal steric hindrance and stronger ion pairing with bicarbonate. However, oxidative degradation is detected by 31 P NMR spectroscopy after the moisture swing experiment, with the appearance of a phosphine oxide peak at 61.28 ppm, which indicates phosphorus oxidation as the primary degradation pathway. In contrast, the ammonium polymer with butyl substituents [PVBT-BuN] exhibits the highest stability, showing no degradation over five moisture swing cycles. Additional stability experiments in 0.5 m KHCO 3 solutions reveal no degradation for any PIL, suggesting that oxidative degradation is driven by dynamic acid-base reactions during the moisture swing cycles in the air. Furthermore, these findings reveal the potential of phosphonium-based PILs for moisture-swing direct air capture, achieving high capacity while highlighting the need for optimized stability through counterion and structural design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2026

Mechanism of ion pairing–induced co-ion penetration into the stern layer

In classical electric double layer (EDL) theory, co-ions—ions carrying the same charge as the electrode—are assumed to be excluded from the Stern layer because of electrostatic repulsion. However, ion pairing with adsorbed counterions may enable co-ions to access the EDL, a phenomenon that remains underexplored. Key questions therefore remain unresolved, including how deeply co-ions penetrate, how ion-specific properties govern them, and how ion pairing within the EDL differs from bulk solution. Here, in this study, we employ molecular dynamics simulations combined with well-tempered metadynamics to quantify co-ion penetration and ion-pairing thermodynamics at positively charged Mg-Al layered double hydroxide interfaces (σ = +20.6 μC/cm 2 ) in aqueous chloride electrolytes across 0.005–3 M range. We reveal a concentration-driven crossover: at dilute conditions, counterion–co-ion contact ion pairing (CIP) is thermodynamically unfavorable or only weakly favorable (ΔG CIP = +0.12 kcal/mol for Li + to −0.42 kcal/mol for K + ), leading to co-ion exclusion. As concentration increases (≥0.5 M), enhanced screening reduces surface repulsion and stabilizes CIP thermodynamics (ΔG CIP = −0.89 kcal/mol for Li + to −1.05 kcal/mol for K + at 3 M), enabling monovalent co-ions to penetrate the Stern layer following the hydration hierarchy K + > Na + > Li + , while divalent co-ions (Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ ) remain in the diffuse layer, forming only solvent-separated pairs. Comparison with bulk solution shows interfacial ion pairing is suppressed at low concentrations but converges to bulk-like thermodynamics at high concentrations, indicating surface effects vanish under strong screening. These results establish a quantitative framework linking ion-pairing thermodynamics to co-ion penetration and providing strategies to design electrochemical interfaces.

Co-ion penetration↗

DOE OSTI2025

Coarse-grained simulation of colloidal self-assembly, cation exchange, and rheology in Na/Ca smectite clay gels

Knowledge Gap: The aggregation of clay minerals—layered silicate nanoparticles—strongly impacts fluid flow, solute migration, and solid mechanics in soils, sediments, and sedimentary rocks. Experimental and computational characterization of clay aggregation is inhibited by the delicate water-mediated nature of clay colloidal interactions and by the range of spatial scales involved, from 1 nm thick platelets to flocs with dimensions up to micrometers or more. Simulations: Using a new coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) approach, we predicted the microstructure, dynamics, and rheology of hydrated smectite (more precisely, montmorillonite) clay gels containing up to 2,000 clay platelets on length scales up to 0.1 μm. Further, simulations investigated the impact of simulation time, platelet diameters (6 to 25nm), and the ratio of Na to Ca exchangeable cations on the assembly of tactoids (i.e., stacks of parallel clay platelets) and larger aggregates (i.e., assemblages of tactoids). We analyzed structural features including tactoid size and size distribution, basal spacing, counterion distribution in the electrical double layer, clay association modes, and the rheological properties of smectite gels. Findings: Our results demonstrate new potential to characterize and understand clay aggregation in dilute suspensions and gels on a scale of thousands of particles with explicit representation of counterion clouds and with accuracy approaching that of all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For example, our simulations predict the strong impact of Na/Ca ratio on clay tactoid formation and the shear-thinning rheology of clay gels.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2026

Tunable Nanoscale Structure via Divalent Ion Identity in Charged-Neutral Polymer Blends

Charged-neutral polymer blends, wherein an ioncontaining polymer is blended with a neutral polymer, are potential candidates for battery electrolytes due to their improved ion transport properties and electrochemical stability. Though electrostatic interactions in charged polymer blends can theoretically stabilize ordered nanostructures analogous to those observed in neutral block copolymers, direct experimental evidence remains limited. Here, we investigate the effects of divalent cation identity on the nanoscale morphology of charged-neutral polymer blends composed of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and Mg 2+ or Ca 2+ ioncontaining polymers, poly[3-(methylacryloxy)propylsulfonyl-1-(trifluoromethanesulfonylimide)] (P(Mg(MTFSI) 2 ) or P(Ca- (MTFSI) 2 ). By tuning the size of the divalent counterion, we are able to precisely tune the ion solvation between the free cation and PEO, which acts as a solvent in this system. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements reveal that Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ ions induce distinct structural behavior. In both systems, the blends become more miscible as the concentration of ion-containing polymer is increased indicated by increased suppression of PEO crystallinity. At the highest concentrations of P(Mg(MTFSI) 2 ), the blends undergo microphase separation and generate nanostructures with shortranged ordering. In contrast, calcium ions, which are more readily solvated by PEO, produce more homogeneous blends characterized by a single glass-transition temperature and featureless SAXS data. The results demonstrate the novel experimental confirmation that charged-neutral polymer blends can undergo microphase separation and show that counterion identity can be exploited as a design parameter to control nanoscale morphology.

Ions↗

DOE OSTI2026

pH-Driven Restructuring of Hydration Layers and Cation Adsorption at the Alumina–Water Interface

Oxide−water interfaces underpin ion separations, catalysis, and electrochemical energy technologies, where the electrical double layer (EDL) controls adsorption, transport, and reactivity. However, the molecular-scale links between pHdependent surface protonation, hydration-layer structure, and counterion adsorption remain poorly defined. Here, we combine in situ crystal truncation rod (CTR) and resonant anomalous X-ray reflectivity (RAXR) with streaming potential measurements and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to resolve the chemical and structural evolution of the EDL at the single-crystal alumina (012)−water interface in 10 mM Rb + over pH 3−12. CTR measurements reveal two distinct adsorbed water layers at ∼2.2 and ∼3.5 Å above the surface. Each water layer shifts toward the substrate at transition pHs near 6.5 and 10.6, respectively, reflecting changes in primary hydration layer structure in response to the deprotonation of bridging and terminal aluminol groups. RAXR shows a 10-fold increase in Rb + coverage and a decrease in mean adsorption height from ∼3.5 to ∼2.7 Å with increasing pH, indicating enhanced counterion binding accompanied by Stern layer contraction. Streaming potential measurements demonstrate that the zeta potential, i.e., the potential at the hydrodynamic shear plane, is positive at pH 3 and becomes negative at pH ≥ 3.5. The negative charge magnitude increases with increasing pH, consistent with progressive surface deprotonation at higher pH. AIMD identifies inner- and outer-sphere Rb+ complexes whose adsorption heights and coordination geometries depend sensitively on the protonation state of surface oxygens, providing atomistic support for the experimentally inferred trends. These measurements establish two discrete, site-specific pH transitions in hydration-layer structure that track aluminol (de)protonation and quantitatively link them to a pH-driven contraction of the Stern layer (increasing Rb + coverage and decreasing adsorption height). This provides a direct structural basis for connecting surface acid−base chemistry to ion binding distances at an oxide−water interface.

Adsorption↗

DOE OSTI2026

Electronic and Structural Properties of the Polymer-Electrolyte Interphase in Electrochemically Doped Polymers

The advance of soft, polymer-based (photo)electrochemical energy transformation and storage applications requires a framework for polymer and electrolyte design that includes a deep understanding of the polymer–electrolyte interphase. Here, we report on the investigations of two napthalenediimide (NDI)–bithiophene (T2)-based semiconducting copolymers using computational modeling and in situ, ex situ, and operando techniques to reveal how changes in electrolyte and polymer chemistry modulate the electronic and structural properties of polymer electrodes during electrochemical (de)doping. These systems are shown to host an ensemble of polarons, in contrast with the single polaron-like character often reported, whose properties vary with the nature of the local environment. Importantly, these polarons serve as reporters of the nanoscale environments in which they reside. We demonstrate that controlling the polymer and electrolyte chemistry regulates the nature of the charge carriers generated upon electrochemical doping and/or exciton dissociation in a photoelectrochemical solar cell: For instance, divalent counterions enable polaron and bipolaron formation at lower reducing potentials, while supporting more bipolaron formation than monovalent counterions. A novel application of NEXAFS reveals insights into charge (de)localization, providing a pathway for future investigation of electron transport mechanisms. Finally, simulations of polymer swelling of an amorphous interphase show that charge formation has a large impact on polymer swelling and ion penetration. These studies deliver insights to enable the control of charge-carrier and ion transport, the rates of electron transfer and catalytic efficiency, device stability, and overall device performance.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Controlling Ion Uptake in Carboxylated Mixed Conductors

Organic mixed ionic‐electronic conductors (OMIECs) have garnered significant attention due to their capacity to transport both ions and electrons, making them ideal for applications in energy storage, neuromorphics, and bioelectronics. However, charge compensation mechanisms during the polymer redox process remain poorly understood, and are often oversimplified as single‐ion injection with little attention to counterion effects. To advance understanding and design strategies toward next‐generation OMIEC systems, a series of p‐channel carboxylated mixed conductors is investigated. Varying side‐chain functionality, distinctive swelling character is uncovered during electrochemical doping/dedoping with model chao‐/kosmotropic electrolytes. Carboxylic acid functionalized polymers demonstrate strong deswelling and mass reduction during doping, indicating cation expulsion, while ethoxycarbonyl counterparts exhibit prominent mass increase, pointing to an anion‐driven doping mechanism. By employing operando grazing incidence X‐ray fluorescence (GIXRF), it is revealed that the carboxyl functionalized polymer engages in robust cation interaction, whereas ester functionalization shifts the mechanism towards no cation involvement. It is demonstrated that cations are pivotal in mitigating swelling by counterbalancing anions, enabling efficient anion uptake without compromising performance. These findings underscore the transformative influence of functionality‐driven factors and side‐chain chemistry in governing ion dynamics and conduction, providing new frameworks for designing OMIECs with enhanced performance and reduced swelling.

carboxylated polythiophenes↗

DOE OSTI2025

Charge Regulation Stabilizes the Formation of Ionic Liquid‐Based Amphiphilic Oligomer Droplet Interface Bilayers

Amphiphilic charged oligomers (oligodimethylsiloxane – methylimidazolium cation, ODMS-MIM (+) ), assemble into bilayers using the droplet interface bilayer (DIB) platform, possess similar size and functionality as phospholipid bilayers, but exhibit increased stability. The oligomer ionic headgroups (MIM (+) ) are covalently bound to monodisperse, short-chain (n = 13) hydrophobic tails (ODMS). These self-assemble as monolayer brushes at the oil–aqueous interface of water droplets that are influenced by both the charged cationic headgroups, and the nature of the covalently attached tails in the organic phase. Charge regulation (CR) stabilizes the formation of ordered, molecularly close-packed brush phases, which results in highly insulating, stable DIB membranes, with contributions from specific ion-pairing effects, Debye screening, and voltage-dependent electrocompressive stresses. In the oil phase, interactions between hexadecane, a good solvent for ODMS, and the hydrophobic tails result in extended waiting times for bilayer formation compared to phospholipid DIBs, for which hexadecane is a poor solvent. Close agreement between experimental values and predictions for two key parameters, the critical membrane thickness, h c , and maximal grafted headgroup density, Γ 0 , validate an electrostatic CR model consisting of adsorption and partial neutralization of counterions at a charged interface.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

One-dimensional heterocyclic carbene–Au metal–organic frameworks bridging ultra-high vacuum models and scalable liquid-phase growth

The controlled design of molecule–metal interfaces is central to the development of functional nanomaterials for catalysis, sensing, and molecular electronics. Here we show that the adsorption of a Janus-type diimidazolium precursor on gold yields one-dimensional (1D) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–Au–NHC metal organic frameworks (MOFs) featuring positively charged gold nodes. Using synchrotron X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), near edge X-ray adsorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), we demonstrate that thermal activation promotes counterion removal and drives the formation of extended 1D arrays, characterized by ∼1.0 nm Au–Au spacing and adatom densities up to 0.6 atom nm −2 (∼4% of surface atoms). Importantly, we translate this ultra-high vacuum (UHV) benchmark into a scalable solution-phase protocol in ethanol, enabling 1D-MOF growth under mild, base-free, open-air conditions. The resulting films retain structural and electronic signatures of UHV-grown systems, bridging model studies and practical synthesis. This approach establishes NHC–metal frameworks as accessible, tunable platforms for catalysis and materials design.

Gold adatoms↗

DOE OSTI2025

Experimental observation of nonlinear relation between pressure and water flux is consistent with the solution-diffusion model

In several recent studies, it has been proposed that the fundamental understanding of penetrant transport in dense polymer membranes occurring via the solution-diffusion model, which has been the generally accepted theoretical framework for describing penetrant transport in such materials for the past several decades, is flawed. An alternate mechanistic framework based on the idea of two-phase flow in a porous medium (i.e., pore-flow) has been broadly advanced instead, with proponents of this approach claiming that the pore-flow theoretical framework provides the necessary mechanistic insight to design novel polymeric membrane materials for emerging applications. In this study, we show experimental results for hydraulic permeation of water that are entirely consistent with the solution-diffusion theory, without modification, for three dense polymeric membranes: crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (XLPEGDA), Nafion 117 ionomer in the sodium counterion form (Nafion 117-Na), and cellulose acetate (CA). By measuring water flux at transmembrane pressures up to 240 bar, we observe a nonlinear relationship between the transmembrane pressure (TMP) and water flux, J w , for XLPEGDA and Nafion 117-Na, while this relationship is linear for CA. We demonstrate that the behavior of these three materials is described via the solution-diffusion model. According to the solution-diffusion model, flux is, to a good approximation, proportional to the transmembrane concentration difference induced by the pressure difference across the membrane, rather than to TMP itself. Water sorption isotherms are reported for all three materials. They further justify the nonlinear relationship between TMP and J w observed in XLPEGDA and Nafion 117-Na, emphasizing that the nonlinearity in the flux/TMP relationship stems from nonlinearities in the sorption isotherm with pressure. Additionally, the relationship between water flux and TMP can be predicted, a priori, with no adjustable parameters when a predictive model for the diffusion coefficient of water is employed in conjunction with the experimental water sorption isotherms in the solution-diffusion model. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the validity of the solution-diffusion model to describe transport of penetrants in dense polymer membranes, while highlighting the sensitivity of the solution-diffusion model to the many physical and mathematical simplifications commonly applied to the theory in literature.

materials↗

DOE OSTI2025

Unraveling the solvation phenomena of Ln 3+ cations in room-temperature ionic liquids: A computational study

Rare-earth elements (REEs), classified as critical materials, are difficult to separate due to their similar chemical properties and slight differences in ionic radius. Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have gained significant attention for REE separation because of their unique physicochemical properties and environmental advantages. In this study, we have investigated the solvation mechanisms of two RE cations (Ln 3+ ), Nd 3+ (light REE) and Yb 3+ (heavy REE), in two 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM] + )-based RTILs using bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([NTf 2 ] − ) and acetate ([OAc] − ) as the respective anions, employing classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) techniques. From MD simulations, it is evident that Ln 3+ cations are primarily solvated by RTIL anions in the first solvation shell, while [BMIM] + cations form the second solvation shell with their numbers depending on the size and composition of the first solvation shell. The neutralizing [NO 3 − ] counterions are mainly solvated by [BMIM] + cations in their first solvation shell. Relative free energy change of solvation calculations using thermodynamic integration (TI) method indicate that Yb 3+ is more strongly solvated than Nd 3+ in both RTILs, a trend further supported by DFT calculations. While both methods predict consistent qualitative behavior, differences in models and energy evaluations lead to variations in absolute values. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the solvation behavior of Ln 3+ cations in RTILs, demonstrating a stronger solvation preference for the heavy Ln 3+ cation (Yb 3+ ). In conclusion, these findings have implications for the design of RTIL-based separation processes for REEs.

Ash, Tamalika [Ames Lab., and Iowa State Univ., Am↗

DOE OSTI2026

Alkali Metal Cation Effects on Dinitrogen Complexes and Organometallic Compounds

Alkali metal (AM) cations are often taken for granted as counterions in coordination chemistry and organometallic reactions. However, the AM cation can be more than a bystander in inorganic transformations. This Account focuses on research that has elucidated several types of AM cation effects and how these can be exploited to achieve novel structures and reactivity pathways. Here, a particular focus is on AM cation effects in low-coordinate iron β-diketiminate complexes, though we address general trends and potential applications in systems with other supporting ligands.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2026

A New Nitrogen-Rich Energetic Material with So Many Tautomers

A new nitrogen-rich triazolo-triazole compound, (3-(6-methyl-1H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b][1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine), TTT1, has been prepared, and its acid–base and tautomeric behavior has been investigated. In the pH range of 0.3–12, TTT1 can accept up to two protons, forming a monocation and a dication, and can deliver one proton, forming a monoanion. The tautomeric behavior is particularly rich for the monocation, for which computational analysis predicts four different tautomers in a narrow energy range of 2 kcal/mol. Two of these tautomers (2H-7H-8H and 3H-7H-8H) have been isolated in salts of the monocation with suitable counterions (chloride, bromide, perchlorate). Surprisingly, the most stable predicted tautomer, 1H-3H-7H, has not been found in the four crystallized salts of the monocation. The energetic perchlorate salt of the monocation (3H-7H-8H tautomer) shows good thermal stability and good stability to impact, friction, and electric discharge. The packing of this compound shows the formation of H-bonded dimers with interactions between N8–H···N1. The crystal structure of this energetic salt was studied experimentally up to 2.8 GPa; no phase change or decomposition was observed.

Chemical structure↗

DOE OSTI2025

Risk Assessment in a Chemical Laboratory Following an Explosive Incident Involving a Novel Diazonium Compound: Retrospective Analysis and Lessons Learned

Diazonium compounds are synthetically useful in the production of dyes and textiles, however they are highly explosive under dry conditions. Explosion prevention becomes more difficult when new diazonium compounds are synthesized, because while some syntheses include a counterion to increase their stability, this is not always a reliable method to prevent an explosive incident. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the explosiveness of different diazonium compounds, it is important to understand how to safely clean up after an incident and how to determine when it is safe to return a laboratory to typical operational use, particularly when the incident involves a novel compound where a standard does not exist for instrument calibration. Here, an explosive event is discussed involving the synthesis of 4-bromo-benzenediazonium-2-carboxylate. Following the explosive incident and 3-step cleanup, which involved a precautionary neutralization step, samples were collected from the fume hood where the incident occurred. Because the incident involved an unstable, novel compound that is not commercially available and was deemed unsafe to resynthesize for instrument calibration, we assessed the risk of further explosion by analyzing for the stable decomposition products. Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the residue in the fume hood contained 5-bromosalicylic acid, a decomposition product of 4-bromo-benzenediazonium-2-carboxylate. Samples were taken from multiple points in the fume hood and analyzed to estimate the spatial distribution of the decomposition product. Based on this analysis, we inferred that the primary decomposition product was far more abundant than residual energetic, indicating the energetic had been consumed or neutralized to a trace quantity where the risk of further explosion was low. Furthermore, the steps presented here─specifically, initial neutralization and then analyzing the spatial distribution of expected decomposition products to assess risk when a novel explosive material is detonated in a confined space─were our approach to assess further risk following an explosion due to a novel diazonium compound without the need for any further handling or resynthesis of the energetic. Here, we present our approach and critically analyze these steps by discussing retrospective lessons learned and alternative analytical approaches.

Computer simulations↗

DOE OSTI2026

Selective Sorbent Design: CaS Aerogel for Rapid Remediation of Aqueous Pb (II)

Heavy metals are a persistent environmental problem due to their high toxicity, even at very low concentrations (parts per billion, ppb). The removal of such diluted heavy metals is challenging because of the competition the counterions (Ca 2+ , Na + , Mg 2+ , etc.) present in natural water bodies. The design of sorbents capable of removing ions below the action limit (15 ppb for Pb 2+ ) requires a strong driving force for selective uptake and rapid removal. In this work, we report the synthesis of porous CaS aerogels (surface area = 143.6 m 2 /g) by oxidative assembly of CaS nanoparticles and describe their use in selective Pb 2+ ion remediation from water. Despite the presence of amorphous CaCO 3 (up to 50 wt %) in the gel network, the gels demonstrated a capacity of 17.1 mmol Pb/g aerogel (3543 mg/g), and this could be augmented to 22.5 mmol Pb/g aerogel (4593 mg/g) by modifying the synthesis to reduce CaCO 3 content to ca. 15 wt %. Moreover, the selectivity of CaS aerogels toward Pb 2+ ions is high, as evidenced by little-to-no change in the distribution constant (K d ∼ 10 4 ) in the presence of competing ions (1 M) such as Na + , Mg 2+ , and Ca 2+ . During remediation with low concentrations (100 ppb) of Pb 2+ with CaS aerogels, the level of Pb 2+ dropped to 5.4 ppb (below the 15 ppb EPA limit) within 1 h with a 95.4% removal efficiency. In contrast to the CO 2 supercritically dried aerogels, lower surface area ambient dried gels (xerogels) only remove 40% of the lead ions from a 100 ppb solution, saturating within 1 h. The efficiency and rapidity of selective Pb 2+ uptake using CdS aerogels arise from a combination of a strong thermodynamic driving force for cation exchange (K eq = 2.5 × 10 27 ) and chemisorption along with favorable kinetics associated with the high surface area porous architecture. These results show that formation of high surface area metal chalcogenide aerogels by oxidative assembly to form nanocrystalline architectures, as previously demonstrated for II−VI and IV−VI semiconductors, can be extended to the more highly ionic alkaline earth sulfides.

Aerogels↗

DOE OSTI2025

Structural Evolution of Mixed-Addenda Keggin Polyoxometalate Anions with Atom-by-Atom Substitution

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are molecular metal oxides with distinctive electronic properties that make them promising materials for applications in energy, sensors, and memory devices. One of the most promising methods of tuning the stability, photochromic, redox, and electron-spin properties of POMs is through the substitution of the metal “addenda” atoms that, along with oxygen, constitute their cage-like structures. Because traditional synthesis methods typically produce a distribution of POMs, the isolation and characterization of multimetallic POMs with predetermined stoichiometry remains challenging. The presence of multiple energetically accessible isomers further complicates the experimental characterization and theoretical modeling of multimetallic POMs. Herein, we leverage the distinguishing mass-selection capabilities of ion soft landing to prepare stoichiometrically selected Keggin PMo x W 12-x O 40 3- (x = 0 – 6, 8, 10, and 12) POMs on self-assembled monolayer surfaces free of the solvent molecules and counterions that often confound characterization of complex species at interfaces. The structures of the supported POMs are characterized with atom-by-atom precision using in situ infrared (IR) reflection absorption spectroscopy complemented by detailed density functional theory calculations. Our joint experimental and theoretical results reveal an almost linear shift in the positions of the IR bands towards lower wavenumbers with an increase in the number of lighter molybdenum atoms compared to heavier W atoms in PMoxW 12-x O 40 3- . The theoretical calculations also indicate that numerous isomeric structures may be populated at the experimental conditions and, consequently, contribute to the overall IR spectra. In conclusion, our findings indicate that in addition to the number of substituted addenda atoms and the presence of multiple isomeric structures, interactions with the surface play an important role in determining the IR spectra and structure of supported bimetallic POMs.

Prabhakaran, Venkateshkumar [Pacific Northwest Nat↗

DOE OSTI2025

Designing a Block Copolymer Membrane for Selective Transport of Lactic Acid from Aqueous Mixtures

We report the design and synthesis of a triblock copolymer-based membrane for enabling selective transport of lactic acid from aqueous solutions. This is relevant to the production of polylactic acid, one of the few biodegradable and biobased polymers with sufficient mechanical strength for practical applications. The end blocks are positively charged with negatively charged lactate counterions. The middle block is polybutadiene (PBD). Due to microphase separation, the charged blocks form channels for transporting lactic acid. The mechanical integrity of the membrane is controlled by cross-linking the PBD block. Transport of lactic acid and water across the membrane was studied by placing the membrane between two chambers, a feed chamber containing aqueous lactic acid solutions, and a receiving chamber containing pure water. The lactic acid concentration in the receiving chamber was monitored as a function of time using conductivity, HPLC, and NMR. The corresponding flux of water from the receiving chamber to the feed chamber was measured using an NMR-based approach. The lactic acid and water permeabilities through our membrane were (1.12 ± 0.05) × 10–8 and (8.58 ± 0.75) × 10–9 cm2 s–1. To our knowledge, there are no reports of lactic acid permeabilities through any membrane in the literature. The separation factor of our membrane, αLA/water, 1.305 ± 0.123, is comparable to that of membranes used for selective transport of ethanol, despite the fact that lactic acid is a much larger molecule than ethanol. Selective transport of lactic acid in our membrane is governed mainly by differences in solubility; lactic acid is 18 times more soluble in the membrane than water.

Jana, Rounak↗

DOE OSTI2026

The Complexation Properties of Self-Defensive Microgel-Modified Antimicrobial Surfaces

The complexation of cationic antimicrobials with polyanionic microgels on a biomaterial surface can render that surface self-defensive against bacteria by killing those bacteria which physically contact the antimicrobial-loaded microgels. This killing has been attributed to the contact-driven transfer of antimicrobial from a microgel to a challenging bacterium, though much remains unknown about this process. Here, in this study, we use a combination of experiments and computational modeling to identify key aspects of the complexation phenomena which influence the self-defensive properties. We synthesize poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) microgels (∼2–5 μm diameter) via membrane emulsification and electrostatically deposit them onto polycaprolactone (PCL) coupons or onto glass to form a discontinuous submonolayer. Subsequent microgel loading with colistin or with Sub5 antimicrobial peptide (AMP) causes microgel deswelling. Under physiological conditions Sub5 remains stably sequestered whereas colistin is quickly released. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations confirm stronger Sub5/PAA complexation. CGMD calculations also indicate that Sub5 forms dimers and higher-order structures, a prediction confirmed experimentally by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). Supramolecular structure entropically enhances the complexation strength because of enhanced counterion release per complexation event, and this finding can help identify other antimicrobials well suited for such a nonelutive yet self-defensive strategy. CGMD simulations also show that Sub5 has a higher complexation strength with the Staphylococcus aureus membrane than it does with PAA, confirming that there is a thermodynamic driving force for antimicrobial transfer. Such self-defensive surfaces significantly reduce S. aureus colonization (over 90% reduction relative to unmodified controls) in an in vitro hematogenous contamination model and remain cyto-compatible as evidenced by mesenchymal stem cell spreading and proliferation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗