Evolution of fractal-like surface structures in layers of polyacrylonitrile solutions by interfacial dynamic processes

Solvent evaporation causes concentration and temperature gradients at the free surface of a coating polymer solution. Thereby surface-tension-driven flows can result in a surface instability with regular structures within the layer. Different types of surface structures can occur at spots with thickness differences. One can find fractal-like structures especially in the edge zone of a layer. The evolution of such fractal-like structures at the surfaces of coating solutions of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in dimethylformamide (DMF) during layer hardening is examined. Condensation of water on the surface of the fluid layer exerts a strong influence on the formation of these structures. Solutions of PAN in DMF are important for the production of ultrafiltration membranes. Such membranes are produced by precipitation in a water bath after a short open time.     

Nanoparticle-induced morphology and hydrophilicity of structured surfaces

Nanoparticles have been applied into the construction of micro- and nanoscaled surface structures with extreme wettability over the past few years. However, the details of processing and employing colloidal nanosuspensions for this purpose have not yet been fully investigated. In this work, we study the surface structures formed via nanosuspensions, in which nanoparticles of solid phase are presented, and the caused surface wettability. We disperse silica nanoparticles with different sizes into pure ethanol to prepare nanosuspensions with a series of concentrations. The suspensions are ultrasonically processed to prompt uniform distribution of nanoparticles before application. The deposited nanosuspensions are thermally treated to assist the regulation of surface patterns based on nanoparticles. Hence, the investigation explores a variety of experimental conditions that will lead to distinctive surface structures and wettabilities. Accordingly, the wettability of the induced surfaces is investigated using contact angle measurement, and the structures of those surfaces are mainly revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Superhydrophilicity is observed on many of such formed surfaces, and the pattern of surface structures in micro- and nanoscale is closely related to the processing conditions and the size of nanoparticles. Thus, we report the characteristics of the surface patterns based on nanoparticles and the formed wettability.     

Self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols on Au(111): surface structures, defects and dynamics

The surface structures, defects and dynamics of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) are reviewed. In the case of the well-known c(4 x 2) and radical 3 x radical 3 R30 degrees surface structures, the present discussion is centered on the determination of the adsorption sites. A more complex scenario emerges for the striped phases, where a variety of surface structures that depends on surface coverage are described. Recently reported surface structures at non-saturation coverage show the richness of the self-assembly process. The study of surface dynamics sheds light on the relative stability of some of these surface structures. Typical defects at the alkanethiol monolayer are shown and discussed in relation to SAMs applications.     

Chain structures of surface hydroxyl groups formed via line oxygen vacancies on TiO2(110) surfaces studied using noncontact atomic force microscopy

Structures of surface hydroxyl groups arranged on a reduced TiO2(110) surface that had line oxygen vacancies were studied using noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM). NC-AFM results revealed that by increasing the density of oxygen vacancies on the TiO2(110) surface, line oxygen vacancies were formed by removal of oxygen atoms in a bridge oxygen row on the TiO2(110) surface. After the TiO2(110) surface with the line oxygen vacancies was exposed to water, the surface showed hydroxyl chain structures that were composed of hydroxyl groups linearly arranged in a form of two rows on the line oxygen vacancies and on a neighboring bridge oxygen row. In-situ NC-AFM measurements of these surfaces exposed to water at room temperature revealed that hydroxyl chain structures were formed at the line oxygen vacancy. Annealing above 500 K was sufficient to remove the hydroxyl chain structures on the TiO2(110) surface and allowed line oxygen vacancies to reappear on the surface. The line oxygen vacancies are active sites for water dissociation. In conclusion, the formation of the hydroxyl chain structure suggests that the surface hydroxyl groups on a TiO2(110) surface can be controlled by preparing oxygen vacancy structures on the surface.     

离子液体表/界面性质与结构

离子液体与气体、溶剂等物质组成的多相体系为吸收、萃取、两相催化等技术的发展提供了新的平台。离子液体的表/界面性质与结构是含离子液体多相体系的重要科学问题,可在介观尺度下显著影响多相体系反应和分离过程的效率。近年来,离子液体表/界面性质和结构的研究得到了广泛的关注。本文综述了离子液体及其与水、有机溶剂组成的混合物的表/界面张力及结构研究进展,介绍了现有的研究方法、研究对象与研究成果,归纳了离子液体及其混合物表/界面张力及结构的变化规律,分析了表/界面结构与表/界面张力之间的关系,探讨了离子液体表/界面研究存在的问题和未来的发展方向。     

Self-assembling of helical poly(phenylacetylene) carrying L-valine pendants in solution, on mica substrate, and on water surface

In the present work, we investigated self-assembling of a poly(phenylacetylene) carrying L-valine pendants (PPA-Val) in a water/methanol solution, upon evaporation of the solution on mica, and on the water surface. With intercalation of a fluorescence probe of Ru(phen)2(dppx)2+ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dppx=7,8-dimethyldipyridophenazine) into the hydrophobic cavities associated by the PPA-Val chains, their helical structures were directly detected in solution with an in situ fluorescence microscope. Helical aggregates were observed with AFM upon evaporation of the solvents, suggesting that the helical structures in the solution are the building blocks of the helical aggregates. Self-assembling structures of PPA-Val on the water surface were, however, very different from that formed upon evaporation of its THF solution on the mica surface. The polymer chains associated into a monolayer of extended fibers on the water surface, whereas superhelical fibers formed on the mica surface. Water molecules play a critical role in inducing the polymer to form diverse morphological structures in its bulk solution and on its surface. In solution, the isotropic hydrophobic effect drove the polymer chains to form superhelical aggregates, while on the water surface, the hydrophobic effect concentrated mainly on the lateral part of the polymer, thus giving a monolayer of extended fibers.     

Precision control of the surface structure of gelatin films using micropit plates

We attempted to use micropit plates as a silicon mold in order to control the surface structures of gelatin films. The three-dimensional micropit plates, fabricated with micromachining technology, have uniform quadrangular or circular pits with side lengths or diameters from 25-400 microm and depths of 40 microm. The micropit plates were originally hydrophilic because of silanol groups on the surface. In order to facilitate peeling the aqueous gelatin film from the micropit plates, the plate was therefore modified with hexamethyldisilazane. Gelatin films with precisely microfabricated structures on the surfaces were obtained by using the modified micropit plates. The release behavior of the films with different surface structures was examined.     

Chain-branching control of the atomic structure of alkanethiol-based gold-sulfur interfaces

Density functional theory structure calculations at 0 K and simulations at 300 K of observed high-resolution in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images reveal three different atomic-interface structures for the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of three isomeric butanethiols on Au(111): direct binding to the Au(111) surface without pitting, binding to adatoms above a regular surface with extensive pitting, and binding to adatoms with local surface vacancies and some pitting. Thermal motions are shown to produce some observed STM features, with a very tight energy balance controlling the observed structures. Variation of the degree of substitution on the α carbon is found to significantly change the relative energies for interaction of the different types of adatom structures with the surface, while the nature of the surface cell, controlled primarily by inter-adsorbate steric interactions, controls substrate reorganization energies and adsorbate distortion energies. Most significantly, by manipulating these features, chemical control of the adsorbate can produce stable interfaces with surface pitting eliminated, providing new perspectives for technological applications of SAMs.     

Models of the structures of silica surface modified with titanium tetrachloride

A comparison of the experimental and calculated spectra of the structures of silica surfaces modified with TiCl₄ shows that only monofunctional groups are formed upon modification of a dehydroxylated surface and that both mono-and bifunctional titanium oxychloride structures are formed upon modification of a hydroxylated surface. After a prolonged evacuation or thermal treatment, a crystalline titanium dioxide phase is formed on the modified silica surface.     

硅的表面结构与电化学(英文)

从原子水平到微米尺寸,准确控制硅表面结构的精密加工,诸如无序的表面粗糙或者精细的图案,乃是电子元件性能及其可靠性的保证.硅在液中的湿清洗以及硅表面侵刻的电化学反应对硅表面结构的形成具有重要作用.近数十年来,有关阐明和控制硅/溶液界面上复杂的电化学反应及其与表面结构形成的关系已有大量的研究,相关研究成果已在新近编著成书.本文综合有关方面研究资料评述现代硅溶解及其形成的表面结构.     

Responsive microstructures on organic–inorganic hybrid films

Micro-periodic structures exhibiting shape memory have been fabricated on organic–inorganic hybrid films. The microscale structures are obtained by forming wrinkles via buckling of the stiff surface layer. The surface-modified layers are obtained by surface photopolymerization or by oxidation of the hybrid films. The microscale structures are spontaneously formed by the shrinkage of the underlayer via gelation. The surface microstructures on titania- or silica-based films with hydrophilic swellable polymers exhibit a humidity response, i.e., a shape memory effect. This is observed when the surface microstructure disappears and is subsequently recovered with cyclic variation of the surrounding humidity. Micro-rolls are also fabricated by the selective swelling of surface-modified layers.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of small organic molecules on well-defined Pt single-crystal surfaces with controlled density of electrochemically generated defects

This work stressed the multistep character of the alcohol electro-oxidation reactions. The concomitant dependency of the mechanistic aspects and the influence of the platinum single-crystalline surface structures, with and without defects, in methanol, ethanol, and glycerol electro-oxidation reactions were emphasized. Despite the different surface crystalline structures, the active site depends on the specific surface configurations.     

SIMS study of semiconductor-oxide-metal structure: AuSiOxSi(111) and AlSiOxSi(111)

The SIMS technique was employed to analyze the structures AuSiO_xSi(111) and AlSiO_xSi(111) formed by a low-temperature surface treatment of Si(111) (T < 550 K) in the preparation of ionizing radiation sensors. The effects of the surface modification by boron on the formation of the surface layer and on characteristics of interfaces between Si(111)-SiO_x and Au-SiO_x or Al-SiO_x, respectively were further investigated. The formation of structures similar to silicides - Au_kSi_l and Al_mSi_n, respectively - was observed and the effect of the degree of the modification with boron on the formation of surface substructures was demonstrated. A particular attention was paid to hydrogen complexes present in the oxide layer and in the structures ≡Si-H, ≡Si-OH and Si-B-H. The results are discussed from the standpoint of possible surface and subsurface processes occuring in the structures studied, and they are also evaluated in connection with measured electric and detection characteristics of the sensors prepared.     

Hydrogen-bonded assembly of methanol on Cu(111)

Investigation of methanol's surface chemistry on metals is a crucial step towards understanding the reactivity of this important chemical feedstock. Cu is a relevant metal for methanol synthesis and reforming, but due to the weak interaction of methanol with Cu, an atomic scale view of methanol's coverage-dependent ordering and self-assembly on Cu(111), the most abundant facet of most nanoparticles, has not yet been possible. Low and variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy coupled with density functional theory reveal a coverage-dependent range of highly ordered structures stabilized by two hydrogen bonds per molecule. While extended chains that resemble the hydrogen-bonded zigzag structures reported for solid methanol are an efficient way to pack methanol at higher coverages, lower surface coverages yield isolated hexamer units. These hexamers form the same number of hydrogen bonds as the chains but appear to repel one another on the surface. Annealing treatments lead to the desorption of methanol with almost no decomposition. This data serves as a useful guide to both the preferred adsorption geometries and energies of a variety of methanol structures on Cu(111) surfaces as a function of surface coverage.     

Oxidation of Anatase TiO2(001) (1×4) Surface

Anatase TiO₂(001) surface arouses lots of research interests since it is believed to be the most reactive surface. However, recent STM measurements showed that except the defect sites, anatase TiO₂(001) (1×4) reconstructed surface is inert to H₂O adsorption. It was indicated that oxidation could be the reason which induces the inert surface reactivity. Therefore, it is strongly motivated to understand the oxidation structures as well as the oxidation process on this surface. In this work, based on first principles calculations, we investigated the oxidized structures and processes of TiO₂ anatase (001) surface with (1×4) reconstruction. We have discovered two kinds of oxidized structures through the molecular adsorption and dissociated adsorption with different oxidation ratio. To understand the oxidation process, we studied the reaction barrier of oxidation process. We conclude the stability of different oxidized structures with different oxidation ratio by comparing the free energy of the system as a function of oxygen chemical potential. Based on that, a first-principles-based phase diagram of the low-energy oxidized surface structures is provided. The effects of the lattice stress are also studied. Results show that the oxidized structure and oxidation ratio strongly depend on the temperature and pressure. The lattice stress also plays an important role.     

硫化物-高分子复合微球表面形貌与模板组成关系的研究

以N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAM)和甲基丙烯酸(MAA)为单体, 通过反相悬浮聚合法制备了多种MAA含量不同的阴离子型P(NIPAM-co-MAA)共聚微凝胶. 以这些共聚微凝胶为模板, 在不同表面活性剂存在下, 合成了一系列CuS(CdS、ZnS)-P(NIPAM-co-MAA)无机-有机复合微球材料, 研究了表面活性剂种类, 模板组成等因素对上述硫化物-高分子复合微球表面形貌的影响. 结果表明, 实验条件下所得复合微球表面均具有图案化结构, 该结构明显依赖于表面活性剂的种类和模板微凝胶的组成. 就模型体系而言, 随表面活性剂Span-20、Span-80和Span-85的HLB(亲水亲油平衡)值降低, 微球表面形貌趋于粗糙, 但仍然十分规整; 就模板组成而言, 模板中MAA含量增加使得复合微球的表面形貌变得更加精细. 据此, 认为通过选用合适的表面活性剂和微凝胶模板可以在一定范围内调控这些无机-有机复合微球的表面形貌, 从而为后续应用研究奠定基础.     

Chiral recognition capabilities of melamine and cyanuric acid supramolecular structures

Currently, there are numerous papers that discuss local chiral domains in supramolecular structures of achiral molecules established using the STM method, and by using DFT calculations. However, there are no data regarding the obtainment of macroscopically chiral 2D-supramolecular structures from achiral molecules. In this study, melamine and cyanuric acid supramolecular structures were self-assembled on a graphitized carbon black surface, which had a surface structure that was identical to HOPG, and also on the surface of an inert solid support for chromatography. Chirality induction according to the Kondepudi effect was used. For the supramolecular structures, MD calculations showed the possibility of obtaining a chiral structure. To establish macroscopic chirality, we proposed the use of the difference in enantiomer adsorption on the modified adsorbents. For this, two indirect methods were used: static adsorption with a polarimetric control and gas chromatography. Both methods indicated the chiral recognition ability of the adsorbents used.     

Effect of nanostructure on the properties of water at the water-hydrophobic interface: a molecular dynamics simulation

The local structure of water near hydrophobic surfaces of different surface topographies has been analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation. An alkane crystal has been taken as the parent model for a hydrophobic surface. Surface structures were created by placing pits into it, which were half a nanometer deep and several nanometers wide. Around all structures, the water has a lower density, less orientational ordering, fewer water-water hydrogen bonds, and fewer surface contacts than for a flat unstructured surface. This indicates that the structured surfaces are more hydrophobic than the flat surface. Of the structures investigated, pits with a diameter of approximately 2.5 nm were effective in increasing the hydrophobic character of the surface.     

A theoretical study on the electronic structures of TiO2: Effect of Hartree-Fock exchange

The effects of the Fock exchange on the geometries and electronic structures of TiO2 have been investigated by introducing a portion of Hartree-Fock (HF) exchange into the traditional density functional. Our results indicate that the functional with 13% HF exchange can correctly predict the band gap and the electronic structures of rutile TiO2, and such an approach is also suitable to describe the structural and electronic properties of anatase and brookite phases. For the TiO2 (110) surfaces, although the surface relaxations are insensitive to the variation of HF exchange, there are larger effects on the positions of the occupied surface-induced states. When 13% HF exchange is employed, the predicted band gap of the perfect surface and position of defect state of the reduced surface are consistent with the experimental values. Moreover, the electronic structures of TiO2 (110) surface are carefully reexamined by using this hybrid density functional method.