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At least 487 records · Page 27

Structure of Sulfuric Acid Solutions Using Pair Distribution Function Analysis

Solvation and mesoscale ordering of sulfuric acid and other strong acid solutions leads to suppressed freezing points and strong rheological changes with varying concentration. While the solid-state structures are well-understood, studies focused on the evolving solvation structure in the solution phase have probed a limited concentration range (~1–6 M). This study applies a total scattering approach in both the wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and pair distribution function (PDF) regimes to elucidate the evolving solvation structure over its full range of acid concentration (0–18 M). The emergence of a prepeak in the WAXS regime at intermediate concentrations indicates a transition from noninteracting sulfate molecules in the dilute limit to sterically limited sulfates at concentrations near its deep eutectic point. Fits to the PDF data quantify this trend, showing a transition from octahedrally hydrated sulfates up to 6–7 M concentrations, followed by gradual dehydration, and eventually reaching a solution structure similar to that of water-in-salt electrolyte systems at high acid concentrations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Nanoparticle Superlattices with Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) Coefficients

In this work, we report on the assembly of gold nanoparticles grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG–AuNPs) in aqueous solutions into the face-centered cubic superlattice by synchrotron X-ray scattering. At sufficiently high salt concentrations, the lattice constant decreases with increasing temperature, i.e., it exhibits a negative thermal expansion (NTE) coefficient that is 2–4 orders (in magnitude) larger than previously reported in NTE materials. The generality of the effect is demonstrated with different salts and different PEG chain lengths. Theoretical calculations show that PEG–AuNP becomes more insoluble (with the Flory–Huggins parameter χ > (1/2)) as temperature increases through water dehydration, with a decrease in the volume of the superlattice and an increase in the entropy of the system. Implications on the formation of nanoparticle superlattices and NTE properties are also discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Impact of Hydration on Supported V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 Catalysts as Explored by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Supported vanadium oxide catalysts are important industrial materials for a wide array of chemical transformations. The condition of surface hydration is of particular interest as a reflection of the state of a freshly manufactured catalysts prior to its activation in catalytic reactors or under conditions of photocatalysis where surface vandia are exposed to moisture. Under such conditions, the surface vanadia species undergo structural changes as evidenced by 51 V MAS NMR in this study. For low surface vanadia densities on titania, a modest trend towards the formation of dimeric and oligomeric vanadia species was observed under hydrated conditions when compared to the corresponding dehydrated catalyst, which contains a large abundance of monomeric vanadia species. The incorporation of tungsten oxide to the V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 catalyst with low surface vanadia density, however, is found to better stabilize the surface vanadia species on the titania support upon hydration than its tungsta-free counterpart. This stabilization is not an intrinsic property of more extensively oligomerized surface vanadia species in the presence of tungsten oxide, evidenced by conditions of high concentrations of surface vanadia oligomers on titania that exhibit dramatic structural changes upon hydration. At high surface vanadia coverage under hydrated environments, the simultaneous observation of crystalline V 2 O 5 nanoparticles and a mobile phase of surface vanadia species is apparent, where vanadia species are dissolved in the thin hydration layer on the titania support. These new findings have broad implications on the behavior of other metal oxide species on high surface oxide supports under hydrated conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Random Walks and Sticky Surfaces: Single-Molecule Measurements of Solute Diffusion in Ethanol/Water-Filled Anodic Alumina Nanopores

Nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes are now being explored for use in advanced chemical separations, including in the dehydration of biofuels such as ethanol. Optimization of membrane performance requires an in-depth understanding of how solvent mixtures and solutes behave under nanoconfinement. In this work, the diffusion of rhodamine B (RhB) dye through 10 nm and 20 nm AAO nanopores filled with a series of ethanol/water mixtures (0 - 33% water) is explored by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). RhB was found to diffuse through the pores by two distinct mechanisms with mean diffusion coefficients, $D_f$ and $D_s$, reflecting fast and slow diffusive motions, respectively, with values that differ by nearly two orders of magnitude. Further, both $D_f$ and $D_s$ increased with pore size and were significantly smaller than $D_b$, the RhB diffusion coefficient in bulk liquid. Mean $D_f$ values follow a composition-dependent trend that closely mimics the viscosity dependence of $D_b$. Additional slowing of fast RhB diffusion is attributed to both hydrodynamic drag and electrostatic interactions with the nanopore surface. The mean $D_s$ values exhibit a different trend with increasing water content, revealing an increase in $D_s$ and a decrease in the contributions of slow diffusion to the observed dynamics. The fluorescence time transient data used in the analysis show that the slow diffusion process is strongly hindered and likely involves frequent adsorption of RhB to the pore surfaces. These results provide new insights into the detailed molecular-level mechanisms of mass transport in nanoporous AAO membranes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Spectra for Characterization of Hydrated Al 2 O 3 Supported MoO x

The structure of supported MoO x /Al 2 O 3 catalysts is investigated using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and density-functional theory (DFT). Phase diagrams were computed to understand the hydroxylation coverage as a function of the temperature, H 2 O partial pressure, and MoO x loading. We relate the shifts in experimental Raman vibrational frequencies under hydrated conditions to hydrogen bonding interactions and the MoO x anchoring location. We showcase that the use of AIMD as a benchmark for DFT can provide insight into how, under certain hydrated conditions, DFT excels as an inexpensive method for computing vibrational frequencies, while, under dehydrated conditions, it is susceptible to the largest errors. Additionally, to facilitate the analysis of the hydroxyl region of experimental infrared spectra, we compute the power spectra of individual hydroxyls and see a strong relationship between OH stretching frequencies and the surrounding coordination environment, which are also impacted by anchored MoO x . Here, we compare computational and experimental IR and Raman spectra of catalysts synthesized herein under the same conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Thermodynamic Stability of Boehmite and Gibbsite

Here, in this study, we examined the effect of gamma radiation on the stabilities of aluminum hydroxide (gibbsite) and aluminum oxyhydroxide (boehmite) nanoparticles in relation to their thermal decomposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed no significant differences in mineral components or morphology before and after radiation. However, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) analyses showed that both boehmite and gibbsite nanoparticles experienced decreased mass loss following irradiation. Raman and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transfer infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra indicated that a fraction of the hydroxyl content in both cases was selectively cleaved by radiation, primarily at the particle surfaces. Quantitative analyses of thermal mass loss behavior demonstrated that irradiated boehmite and gibbsite nanoparticles had higher activation energies than their pristine counterparts, with the extent of the increase dependent on the total dose. Taken together, these findings suggest that exposure to a sufficient dose of ionizing radiation alters these materials such that they are less prone to decomposition by dehydration. This increased stability may be due to the decreased hydrous nature of the samples after radiation exposure, which was supported by further high temperature drop calorimetry. Additionally, a radiation-induced amorphous phase on the nanoparticle surfaces appears to have a permanent and positive influence on their thermodynamic stabilities.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Anatase TiO 2 Surface Hydration: Infrared Vibrational Assignment and Facet-Specific Stability

Anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles support a subtle diversity of surface aqua and hydroxy coordination environments that are characteristic of distinct facets and defect sites. The disparate properties and stability of each molecularly or dissociatively absorbed water environment may provide unique reactivity for facet- and site-selective atomic layer deposition (ALD). Here we probe the temperature-dependent and facet-specific stretching frequency and stability of surface hydroxyls on faceted anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles via in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Well-defined truncated octahedra, disks, and rods fabricated through hydrothermal synthesis present dominant (101), (001), and (010) facets, respectively. The selective dehydration of discrete local coordination environments as a function of temperature provides a potential pathway to site-selective and facet-selective ALD on metal oxide nanomaterials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Carbonation and Sulfidation of Mg- and Ni-Containing Solutions: Implications for Carbon Mineralization and Critical Element Recovery

Carbonation of alkaline earth metals ( e.g. , magnesium (Mg)) and sulfidation of nickel (Ni) are promising methods to achieve concurrent carbon mineralization and selective Ni recovery. However, the coexistence of alkaline earth metals and Ni from silicate ores or mining wastewater complicates the carbonation and sulfidation owing to cation coprecipitation. To better understand simultaneous metal carbonation and Ni-sulfide formation, we used Mg- and Ni-containing solutions and systematically investigated the Mg and Ni coprecipitates’ phase transformation during sequential/concurrent carbonation and sulfidation. During a single carbonation process, hydromagnesite dehydrated and formed magnesite over time. Nickel bicarbonate formed and became a Mg–Ni carbonate solid solution because of their similar ionic radii. During a single sulfidation process, the pH did not affect Ni-sulfide formation, but it controlled Mg behavior. Specifically, at pH 9.6, brucite formed, while at pH 7.8, Mg 2+ remained in the solution. For the sequential carbonation–sulfidation process, Ni-carbonate formed during carbonation converted to Ni-sulfide because of the low Ni-sulfide K sp . For the sulfidation–carbonation process, Ni-sulfide remained the same even after carbonation and Mg-carbonate precipitates. For the concurrent carbonation and sulfidation process, Mg-carbonate and Ni-sulfide formed simultaneously. Finally, this study develops a scientific foundation of carbonation and sulfidation processes, benefiting coupled CO 2 storage and sulfide-enabled resource recovery.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Real-time Characterization of the Fine Structure and Dynamics of an Electrical Double Layer at Electrode-electrolyte Interfaces

The chemisorption of species from supporting electrolytes on electrode surfaces is ubiquitous in electrochemical systems and affects the dynamics and mechanism of various electrochemical reactions. The understanding of chemical structure and property of the resulting electrical double layer is vital but limited. In this work, we operando probed the electrochemical interface between a gold electrode surface and a common supporting electrolyte, phosphate buffer, using our newly developed in situ liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry. We surprisingly found that on the positively charged gold electrode surface sodium cations were anchored in the stern layer in a partially dehydrated form by formation of compact ion pairs with the accumulated phosphate anions. The resulting strong and dense adsorption phase was further revealed to retard the electro-oxidation reaction of ascorbate. This finding addressed one major gap in the fundamental science of electrode-electrolyte interfaces that where and how the cations reside in the double layer to impose effects on electrochemical reactions, providing insights into engineering of better electrode-electrolyte interfaces in electrochemical processes.

Zhang, Yanyan↗

Machine Learning-Accelerated First-Principles Molecular Dynamics Explains Anomalous Lattice Thermal Expansion in BaZr 0.78 Y 0.22 O 3-δ

Fuel cells are a vital clean energy technology that converts chemical energy directly into electricity with high efficiency, making them a cornerstone of a sustainable energy future. Herein we investigate the thermal and chemical lattice expansion behavior of hydrated BaZr 0.78 Y 0.22 O 3-δ using machine learning-accelerated ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Here, our results reproduce the experimentally observed non-monotonic and anomalous temperature dependence of lattice expansion, which we attribute to the competing effects of thermal expansion and dehydration—two mechanisms that influence the lattice expansion in opposite directions. The importance of this work lies in its detailed demonstration of how advanced computational techniques can accurately capture complex environmental effects, providing a valuable framework for modeling similar phenomena in a variety of material systems and applications.

Proton conducting fuel cell↗

All-Atom Modeling and Simulation of Biopolymer Interface: Dual Role of Antifouling Polymer Brushes

Antifouling polymer brushes are well-known for their exceptional resistance to unwanted protein adsorption. While experimental studies have extensively characterized protein–polymer brush interactions, computational investigations remain limited, largely due to the challenges in accurately modeling and integrating these complex, multicomponent systems without resorting to oversimplification. To address this challenge, this study presents one of the most comprehensive and realistic model systems to date, comprising the substrate, grafted polymers, and proteins. Our work interprets the interactions between polymer brush and protein based on realistic modeling without simplification. In particular, this study utilizes molecular modeling and simulation of polycationic and polyzwitterionic brushes─poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA), poly(2-(N-oxide-N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PNOMA), and poly(2-(N-3-sulfopropyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate) (PSBMA)─grafted onto α-quartz substrates via polymerization initiator linkers. The brush models were developed to closely replicate experimentally synthesized samples and to provide detailed insights into structural and dynamical changes at the molecular level during protein adsorption. Using steered molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the PSBMA brush, due to its high local density, exhibits the greatest resistance to protein insertion. Cα root-mean-square deviation and interaction pattern analyses further reveal that the PSBMA brush also induces the most significant destabilization of lysozyme, while the PDMAEMA brush enhances protein stability through ion-mediated interactions. The PNOMA brush, while requiring the lowest force for protein adsorption, induces greater protein destabilization than the PDMAEMA brush, primarily due to electrostatic repulsion caused by a short carbon spacer length. Hydration analysis reveals that both the PSBMA brush and the lysozyme interacting with it exhibit the most rapid dehydration, attributed to the brush’s high local chain density, which results in the greatest lysozyme destabilization and the highest adsorption force. These findings highlight the dual role of antifouling polymer brushes: resisting protein adsorption and modulating protein structural dynamics. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights for the rational design of next-generation antifouling materials and offers a framework for realistic model development in complex multicomponent systems.

Adsorption↗

Dueling Backbones: Comparing Peptoid and Peptide Analogues of a Mussel Adhesive Protein

Ensembles of amino acid side chains often dominate the interfacial interactions of intrinsically disordered proteins; however, backbone contributions are far from negligible. Using a combination of nanoscale force measurements and molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrated with analogous mussel-mimetic adhesive peptides and peptoids both 34 residues long that highly divergent adhesive/cohesive outcomes can be achieved on mica surfaces by altering backbone chemistry only. The Phe, Tyr, and Dopa containing peptoid variants used in this study deposited as dehydrated and incompressible films that facilitated analysis of peptoid side chain contributions to adhesion and cohesion. For example, whereas Phe and Dopa peptoids exhibited similar cohesion, Dopa peptoids were ~3 times more adhesive than Phe peptoids on mica. Compared with the peptides, Phe peptoid achieved only ~20% of Phe containing peptide adhesion, but the Dopa peptoids were >2-fold more adhesive than the Dopa peptides. Cation-π interactions accounted for some but not all of the cohesive interactions. Finally, our results were corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations and highlight the importance of backbone chemistry and the potential of peptoids or peptoid/peptide hybrids as wet adhesives and primers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Unusual Electrochemical Activity of Thin SiO 2 Layers Leads to Instability of Molecular Attachment in Hybrid Photoelectrodes

Hybrid photoelectrodes, comprised of a light-absorbing semiconductor and a surface-integrated molecular catalyst, are attractive for applications in artificial photosynthesis, since they combine the advantages of broadband semiconductor light absorption with the selectivity of molecular catalysis. A widely used class of hybrid photoelectrodes is based on Si substrates passivated by a thin (<3 nm) layer of silicon oxide, which is commonly prepared by controlled chemical or thermal oxidation, resulting in chemical oxide (ChO) or thermal oxide (ThO) layers, respectively. However, the electrochemical stability of these oxide layers, and the chemical stability of the semiconductor-molecule assembly in hybrid photoelectrodes, are not well understood, with evidence that covalently-bound molecules detach from the oxide surface upon application of cathodic bias. We have examined the intrinsic electrochemical reactivity of silicon oxide layers and how it affects the attachment of molecular monolayers. We determined that the surface of Si|ThO is primarily terminated with hydrophobic siloxane moieties, whereas that of Si|ChO contains a higher concentration of hydrophilic silanol groups. Initial high current densities for Si|ChO under applied bias up to -2 V vs. Ag/AgCl, decrease during repeated cyclic voltammetry scans, due to the consumption of surface-bound water. This is manifested by a reversible wave around -0.5 V in CH 3 CN solution, and a similar pH-dependent wave in water, revealing the pK a of the silanol groups to be ~4. Here, our combined observations support the electrochemically-induced dehydration of the SiO 2 surface, which converts silanol groups to siloxanes and proceeds through an H-atom intermediate that is most likely stabilized by pentavalent Si. We propose that similar reactivity is responsible for the electrochemical loss of alkylsiloxane-attached molecules under cathodic bias, which has important implications for the choice of catalyst attachment strategy in hybrid photoelectrodes.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Selective Hydration of Rutile TiO 2 as a Strategy for Site-Selective Atomic Layer Deposition

In this report the feasibility of a site-selective hydration strategy that enables site-selective atomic layer deposition (ALD) is investigated among four rutile TiO 2 facets [(110), (100), (101) and (001)] and their most prevalent step edges. First-principles simulations of asymmetric slab models were utilized to create accurate representations of pristine terrace and step edge sites. The adsorption free energies for molecular and dissociative adsorption of H 2 O were calculated to evaluate this strategy as a viable route to step edge selectivity. We predict that selective hydroxylation is possible on the 110 and 001 step edges and further computationally evaluate three metalorganic ALD precursors for their compatibility with the selective hydration strategy. Experimental evidence for delayed nucleation of ALD on rutile (001), (110), and (100) TiO2 single crystals corroborates predictions of the dehydration of the surface and suggests the possibility of site-selective ALD.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Tunable Solid Acid Catalyst Thin Films Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition

Solid acid catalysts, including zeolites and amorphous silica-aluminas (ASAs), are industrially important materials widely used in the fuel and petrochemical industries. The versatility of zeolites is due to the Brønsted acidity of the bridging hydroxyl and shape selectivity that can be tailored during and after synthesis. This is in contrast to amorphous silica-alumina, where tailoring acidity is a major challenge as the Brønsted acid structure in ASA is still debated. In both cases, however, the pore size and acidity cannot be tuned independently, and this is particularly limiting in the application of biomass conversion, where zeolite pores are too small for the molecules of interest. Herein, we present a method using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to prepare thin films of solid acid materials where the ratio of Brønsted to Lewis acid sites can be tuned precisely. This capability, combined with the sub-nm pore size control afforded by ALD yields a powerful and flexible method for synthesizing solid acid catalysts inside virtually any mesoporous host. We demonstrate the utility of these materials in two acid-catalyzed reactions relevant to biomass conversion: (1) Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley–Oppenauer (MPVO) reaction and dehydration of fructose and (2) cascade reaction of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Finally, we propose a plausible structure for the Brønsted acid sites in our materials based on infrared spectroscopy and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance measurements and density functional theory calculations and argue that this same structure might apply to conventional ASAs as well.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Mechanistic Insights on Permeation of Water over Iron Cations in Nanoporous Silicon Oxide Films for Selective H 2 and O 2 Evolution

Electrocatalysts encapsulated by an ultrathin and semipermeable oxide layer offer a promising avenue for efficient, selective, and cost-effective production of hydrogen through photoelectrochemical water splitting. This architecture is especially attractive for Z-scheme water splitting, for which a nanoporous oxide film can be leveraged to mitigate undesired, yet kinetically facile, reactions involving redox shuttles, such as aqueous iron cations, by limiting transport of these species to catalytically active sites. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations were combined with electrochemical measurements to provide a mechanistic understanding of permeation of water and Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox shuttles through nanoporous SiO 2 films. It is shown that even for SiO 2 pores with a width as small as 0.8 nm, water does not experience any energy barrier for permeating into the pores due to a favorable interaction with hydrophilic silanol groups on the oxide surface. In contrast, permeation of Fe(III) and Fe(II) into microporous SiO 2 pores is limited due to high energy barriers, which stem from a combination of distortion and dehydration of the second and third ion solvation shells. Furthermore, our simulations and experimental results show that SiO 2 coatings can effectively mitigate undesired Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox reactions at underlying electrodes by attenuating permeation of iron cations, while allowing water to permeate and thus participate in water splitting reactions. In a broader context, our study demonstrates that selectivity of solvated cations can be manipulated by controlling the pore size and surface chemistry of oxide films.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Understanding Cation Selectivity in Carbon Nanopores with Hybrid First-Principles/Continuum Simulations: Implications for Water Desalination and Separation Technologies

Understanding ion adsorption in porous carbons is crucial for a range of technologies, including water desalination and energy storage. In this work, we combined density functional theory with a continuum solvation model to investigate thermodynamics and kinetics of the adsorption process of alkali metal ions from aqueous solutions into carbon nanopores with different sizes and geometries. We found that cations with a larger ionic radius are more favorable to enter the nanopores because of a lower energy penalty of dehydration. In addition, the pore size and geometry were found to have a significant impact on the ion–pore interaction under confinement and cation selectivity. Our study highlights a complex interplay among nanopore geometry, ion size, and hydration on the cation adsorption selectivity, suggesting that tuning the porosity could represent a general strategy for improving ion separations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Synthesis and Characterization of Amorphous Lawsone Polymer Dots for Fluorescent Applications

In this work, a two-step hydrothermal/solvothermal process was developed to generate highly fluorescent lawsone polymer dots (LPDs) utilizing an inexpensive and abundant starting material, 2-hydroxy-1,4-napththoquinone (lawsone). This hydrothermal/solvothermal process produces LPDs that have excitation independent emission with well-defined electronic transitions. This two-step protocol provides a straightforward approach to remove unwanted small molecular fluorescence, which has plagued carbon dot systems, without the need for advanced chromatographic purification methods or steps. A series of spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical experiments suggest that this process proceeds via a sequential dehydration and dehydrogenation pathway to cross-link the lawsone into a carbon dot structure. This polymerization process helps to stabilize and favor certain electronic transitions inherently present in the lawsone monomer. The generation of the LPDs results in a 2 order of magnitude increase in the emission intensity and a quantum yield of 37%. This behavior is likely the result of the cross-linked structure shielding these electronic states from deactivation caused by nonradiative processes such as vibrational coupling and excited state quenching from thermal deactivation and solvent collisions. This finding is consistent with a cross-linked enhanced emission (CEE) mechanism, as previously observed for other similar systems. The LPDs were then incorporated into a TiO2 photoanode and utilized as a photosensitizer in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) which showed an enhancement in photocurrent density over pure TiO2. We also prepared a derivative of the LPDs utilizing a diethylene triamine additive (nitrogen-doped lawsone polymer dots (N-LPDs)) using the same two-step protocol and demonstrated its potential as a fluorescence microscopy dye for imaging MDA-MB-231 cancer cells.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗