Application of the quartz crystal microbalance to the evaporation of colloidal suspension droplets

An investigation into the evaporation of sessile droplets of latex and clay particle suspensions is presented in this work. The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) has been used to study the interfacial phenomena during the drying process of these droplets. Characteristic changes of the crystal oscillating frequency and crystal resistance (damping of the oscillating energy) have been observed and related to the different stages of the evaporation process. Measurements have been made for latex particle sizes from 1.9 to 10 microm and for rough and polished crystals using drops from 0.3 to 1.5 microL. The behavior of the QCM is shown to depend strongly on the size of particles present and on the morphology of the crystal surface. One of the most striking features is a drastic damping of the oscillation energy and corresponding rise in frequency observed during the final stages of evaporation, particularly for the clay suspensions.     

The kinetics of H2O vapor condensation and evaporation on different types of ice in the range 130-210 K

The kinetics of condensation (kc) and the evaporation flux (J(ev)) of H2O on ice were studied in the range 130-210 K using pulsed-valve and steady-state techniques in a low-pressure flow reactor. The uptake coefficient gamma was measured for different types of ice, namely, condensed (C), bulk (B), single crystal (SC), snow (S), and cubic ice (K). The negative temperature dependence of gamma for C, B, SC, and S ice reveals a precursor-mediated adsorption/desorption process in agreement with the proposal of Davy and Somorjai.(1) The non-Arrhenius behavior of the rate of condensation, kc, manifests itself in a discontinuity in the range 170-190 K depending on the type of ice and is consistent with the precursor model. The average of the energy of sublimation DeltaH(S) degrees is (12.0 +/- 1.4) kcal/mol for C, B, S, and SC ice and is identical within experimental uncertainty between 136 and 210 K. The same is true for the entropy of sublimation DeltaS(S). In contrast, both gamma and the evaporative flux J(ev) are significantly different for different ices. In the range 130-210 K, J(ev) of H2O ice was significantly smaller than the maximum theoretically allowed value. This corroborates gamma values significantly smaller than unity in that T range. On the basis of the present kinetic parameters, the time to complete evaporation of a small ice particle of radius 1 mum is approximately a factor of 5 larger than that previously thought.     

Formation of protein molecular imprints within Langmuir monolayers: a quartz crystal microbalance study

Protein imprinting leading to enhanced rebinding of ferritin to ternary lipid monolayers is demonstrated using a quartz crystal microbalance. Monolayers consisting of cationic dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide, non-ionic methyl stearate, and poly(ethylene glycol) bearing phospholipids were imprinted with ferritin at the air/water interface of a Langmuir-Blodgett trough and transferred hydrated to hydrophobic substrates for study. This immobilization was shown by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to significantly hinder any further diffusion of lipids, while rebinding studies demonstrated up to a six-fold increase in ferritin adsorption to imprinted versus control monolayers. A diminished rebinding of ferritin to its imprint was observed through pH reduction to below the protein isoelectric point, demonstrating the electrostatic nature of the interaction. Rebinding to films where imprint pockets remained occupied by the template protein was also minimal. Studies with a smaller acidic protein revealed the importance of the steric influence of poly(ethylene glycol) in forming the protein binding pockets, as albumin-imprinted monolayers showed low binding of ferritin, while ferritin-imprinted monolayers readily accommodated albumin. The controllable structure-function relationship and limitations of this system are discussed with respect to the application of protein imprinting in sensor development as well as fundamental studies of proteins at dynamic interfaces.     

Optical constants of HNO3/H2O and H2SO4/HNO3/H2O at low temperatures in the infrared region

The complex index of refraction of liquid HNO3/H2O and H2SO4/HNO3/H2O has been obtained at different temperatures and acid concentrations. FT-IR specular reflectance spectra were obtained for 30, 54, and 64 wt % aqueous HNO3 and for four different H2SO4/HNO3/H2O mixtures in the temperature region from 293 to 183 K. The complex index of refraction was obtained from the reflectance spectra with the Kramers-Kronig transformation. The optical constants of the binary and ternary mixtures vary with the acid concentration and the temperature. The results demonstrate that vibrational bands originating from the sulfate species are more sensitive to changes in temperature than the bands originating from vibrations in the nitrate species; only minor changes in the nitrate vibrational bands are observed as the temperature decreases below 248 K.     

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of R-SNO with immobilization on self-assembled monolayer of [Co(tpy-SH)Cl2]

Au/[Co(tpy-SH)Cl₂] electrode was prepared by self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of Au and then synthesized [Co(tpy-SH)Cl₂] and showed good reproducibility in electrochemical properties. The observed formal potential for Co^2+/3+using this electrode was 0.05 V in phosphate buffer at pH 5.6. A strong desorption peak at 0.5 V was observed for deposited R-SNO. The resistance of solutions with Au/[Co(tpy-SH)Cl₂] and Au/[Co(tpy-SH) (R-SNO)_x] electrodes was similar; however, the larger resistance of electron transfer was observed for Au/[Co(tpy-SH) (R-SNO)_x] electrode that incorporated one R-SNO in an electroactive site. A relative standard deviation for calibration curve (r=0.98) was 8% and a liner response was observed for the concentration from 5.8×10⁻¹ M to 5.8×10⁻⁶ M. Interference from amino acids that do not contain a thiol group was 5% or less.     

A quartz crystal microbalance study of the adsorption of asphaltenes and resins onto a hydrophilic surface

The adsorption of extracted and purified samples of asphaltenes and resins onto gold surfaces has been studied as a function of bulk concentration using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation measurements (QCM-D). With this device, which works equally well in transparent, opaque, and nontransparent samples, the adsorbed amount is measured through a change in resonant frequency of the quartz oscillator. The measured change in dissipation reports on changes in layer viscoelasticity and slip of the solvent at the surface. The results show that the adsorbed amount for resins from heptane corresponds to a rigidly attached monolayer. The adsorbed amount decreases with increasing amount of toluene in the solvent and is virtually zero in pure toluene. Asphaltenes, on the other hand, adsorb in large quantities and the mass and dissipation data demonstrate the presence of aggregates on the surface. The aggregates are firmly attached and cannot be removed by addition of resins. On the other hand, resins and asphaltenes associate in bulk liquid and the adsorption from mixtures containing both resins and asphaltenes is markedly different from that obtained from the pure components. Hence, we conclude that preformed resin aggregates adsorb to the surface. These results are compared and discussed in relation to adsorption from crude oil diluted in heptane/toluene mixtures.     

Adsorption of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles within layer-by-layer films: a kinetic study carried out using quartz crystal microbalance

The paper reports on the successful use of the quartz crystal microbalance technique to assess accurate kinetics and equilibrium parameters regarding the investigation of in situ adsorption of nanosized cobalt ferrite particles (CoFe(2)O(4)--10.5 nm-diameter) onto two different surfaces. Firstly, a single layer of nanoparticles was deposited onto the surface provided by the gold-coated quartz resonator functionalized with sodium 3-mercapto propanesulfonate (3-MPS). Secondly, the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique was used to build multilayers in which the CoFe(2)O(4) nanoparticle-based layer alternates with the sodium sulfonated polystyrene (PSS) layer. The adsorption experiments were conducted by modulating the number of adsorbed CoFe(2)O(4)/PSS bilayers (n) and/or by changing the CoFe(2)O(4) nanoparticle concentration while suspended as a stable colloidal dispersion. Adsorption of CoFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles onto the 3-MPS-functionalized surface follows perfectly a first order kinetic process in a wide range (two orders of magnitude) of nanoparticle concentrations. These data were used to assess the equilibrium constant and the adsorption free energy. Alternatively, the Langmuir adsorption constant was obtained while analyzing the isotherm data at the equilibrium. Adsorption of CoFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles while growing multilayers of CoFe(2)O(4)/PSS was conducted using colloidal suspensions with CoFe(2)O(4) concentration in the range of 10(-8) to 10(-6) (moles of cobalt ferrite per litre) and for different numbers of cycles n = 1, 3, 5, and 10. We found the adsorption of CoFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles within the CoFe(2)O(4)/PSS bilayers perfectly following a first order kinetic process, with the characteristic rate constant growing with the increase of CoFe(2)O(4) nanoparticle concentration and decreasing with the rise of the number of LbL cycles (n). Additionally, atomic force microscopy was employed for assessing the LbL film roughness and thickness. We found the film thickness increasing from about 20 to 120 nm while shifting from 3 to 10 CoFe(2)O(4)/PSS bilayers, using the 8.9 × 10(-6) (moles of cobalt ferrite per litre) suspension.     

The effect of crystal fragmentation on the luminescence from pulse-irradiated H2O ice

The extent of crystal fragmentation in electron pulse-irradiated H₂O ice does not affect the spectral distribution of the luminescence emitted by the ice, except in the case of the Balmer α-emission at 656 nm, which is reduced in intensity when the extent of ice fragmentation is increased. The luminescence intensity at 400 nm is sufficiently high for luminescence decay half-lives to be measured and these do not change with ice fragmentation. The effect of fragmentation on the Balmer α-intensity is explained by the trapping at dislocations of either exciton or electron precursors to the luminescence.     

Thermodynamics of the System HNO3-UO2(NO3)2-H2O at 298.15 K

The sorption of ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁷⁵Se, ¹⁰³Pd, ¹¹⁰Ag and ²⁰³Hg radionuclides by polyurethane foam (PUF) was investigated and optimized with respect to the selection of appropriate sorptive medium, metal, thiocyanate ions (except for ¹¹⁰Ag) and PUF concentration and equilibration time. The influence of common anions and cations on the sorption of each metal was examined. The sorption data subjected to different sorption isotherms have shown that the sorption of all the radionuclides followed Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms. The sorption capacity intensity and energy were evaluated for each element studied. The variation of sorption with temperature was monitored for all radionuclides except zinc and selenium. The values of H, S and G were estimated and found to be negative indicating exothermic and spontaneous nature of sorption. It was found that PUF is an effective and economical sorbent for traces of metal ions which can be used for the separation/preconcentration of these ions from their very dilute solutions and has useful applications in radioanalytical and environmental chemistry and in radioactive and industrial liquid waste management.     

K4H2[PMo9V3O40]·10H2O的合成及其晶体结构

采用低温技术,用X射线单晶衍射法测定了标题化合物的结构。晶体属P4/mnc空间群,=12.515(3),c=17.636(7)A,Z=2.用788个独立可观测反射精修所有结构参数得R=0.061.钼钒磷杂多酸阴离子中,PO4四面体是无序的,P-O键长1.54A.M(Mo,V)是6配位,M-O键长1.62-2.48A,K是7配位,K-O键长2.84-3.10A。     

Transport of ionic charge and solvent in poly(3-octylthiophene) films: An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study

The results of a study of poly(3-octylthiophene) films with the aid of an electrochemical quartz microbalance are presented. The effect of the nature of the electrolyte anion on the determined weights of mobile species that are transported through the film/electrolyte interface is discussed. The obtained results point to a substantial role played by the solvent transport in the course of the electrode reaction. The results concerning the influence exerted by the electrode material on the observed regularities are presented.     

A flash photolysis study of the rate of the reaction OH + CH4 → CH3 + H2O over an extended temperature range

A flash photolysis system has been used to study the rate of reaction (1), OH + CH₄ → CH₃ + H₂O, using time-resolved resonance absorption to monitor OH. The temperature was varied between 300 and 900°K. It is found that the Arrhenius plot of k₁ is strongly curved and k₁ (T) can best be represented by the expression The apparent Arrhenius activation energy changes from 15±1 kJ/mole at 300°K to 32±2 kJ/mole at 1000°K. On either side of our temperature range, both absolute rates and their temperature dependence are in good agreement with the results from most previous investigations.     

Unique guest-inclusion properties of a breathing ionic crystal of K3[Cr3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3][alpha-SiW12O40].16 H2O

A microstructured ionic crystal, K(3)[Cr(3)O(OOCH)(6)(H(2)O)(3)][alpha-SiW(12)O(40)].16 H(2)O (1) was synthesized by the complexation of the Keggin-type polyoxometalate of [alpha-SiW(12)O(40)](4-) with a macrocation of [Cr(3)O(OOCH)(6)(H(2)O)(3)](+). Compound 1 possessed a straight channel, with an opening of approximately 0.5x0.8 nm, which contained the water of crystallization. The use of the macrocation with large size (0.7 nm) and small charge (+1) reduced the anion-cation interaction and was essential for the channel formation. The molecular structures of the polyoxometalate and the macrocation in 1 were retained under vacuum at 473 K. Analogues of 1 were synthesized with [alpha-PVW(11)O(40)](4-) or [Fe(3)O(OOCH)(6)(H(2)O)(3)](+). The water of crystallization in 1 was removed under vacuum at room temperature to form the closely packed guest-free phase 2. Compound 2 reversibly and repeatedly included water and polar organic molecules with two carbon atoms or less. Guest inclusion was highly selective and a difference of even one methylene group in the organic guest molecule was discriminated by the host. Polar organic molecules with longer methylene chains and nonpolar molecules such as dinitrogen and methane were completely excluded. The guest-inclusion properties could be explained by the ion-dipole interaction between the host and the guest, which is proportional to the dipole moment of the guest molecule and inversely proportional to the ion-dipole (host-guest) distance. Thus, small polar molecules were selectively absorbed. These distinctive guest-inclusion properties were successfully applied to the oxidation of methanol from a mixture of C(1) and C(2) alcohols. These results show unique guest inclusion and catalysis by rationally designed ionic crystals.     

Pressure dependence of the reaction Cl + C2H2 over the temperature range 230 to 370 K

The pressure dependence of reaction (1), Cl + C₂H₂ + M → C₂H₂Cl + M, has been measured by a relative rate technique using the pressure independent abstraction reaction (2), Cl + C₂H₆ → C₂H₅ + HCl, as the reference. Values of k₁/k₂ were measured at pressures between 25 and 1300 torr at four temperatures ranging from 252 to 370 K, using air, N₂, or SF₆ diluent gases. Low pressure measurements (10–50 torr) were performed at 230 K. Assuming a temperature-independent center broadening factor of 0.6 in the Troe formalism and using the established value of k₂, these data can be used to determine the temperature dependent high and low pressure limiting rate constants over the range of conditions studied in air for reaction (1): k_∞(1) = 2.13 × 10^?10 (T/300)^?1.045 cm³/molecule-s; and k₀(1) = 5.4 × 10^?30 (T/300)^?2.09 cm⁶/molecule²-s. Use of these expressions yields rate constants with an estimated 20% accuracy including uncertainty in the reference reaction. The data indicate that the rate constant for a typical stratospheric condition at 30 km altitude is approximately 50% of that previously estimated.     

Radical-molecule reaction C3H+H2O: a mechanistic study

Despite the importance of the C(3)H radical in both combustion and interstellar space, the reactions of C(3)H toward stable molecules have never been studied. In this paper, we report our detailed mechanistic study on the radical-molecule reaction C(3)H+H(2)O at the Becke's three parameter Lee-Yang-Parr-B3LYP6-311G(d,p) and coupled cluster with single, double, and triple excitations-CCSD(T)6-311G(2d,p) (single-point) levels. It is shown that the C(3)H+H(2)O reaction initially favors formation of the carbene-insertion intermediates HCCCHOH (1a,1b) rather than the direct H- or OH-abstraction process. Subsequently, the isomers (1a,1b) can undergo a direct H- extrusion to form the well-known product propynal HCCCHO (P(5)). Highly competitively, (1a,1b) can take the successive 1,4- and 1,2-H-shift interconversion to isomer H(2)CCCHO(2a,2b) and then to isomer H(2)CCHCO(3a,3b), which can finally take a direct C-C bond cleavage to give product C(2)H(3) and CO (P(1)). The other products are kinetically much less feasible. With the overall entrance barrier 10.6 kcal/mol, the title reaction can be important in postburning processes. Particularly, our calculations suggest that the title reaction may play a role in the formation of the intriguing interstellar molecule, propynal HCCCHO. The calculated results will also be useful for the analogous C(3)H reactions such as with ammonia and alkanes.     

A quartz crystal microbalance study of the removal of solid organic soils from a hard surface in aqueous surfactant solution

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) has been employed to monitor the removal of two model solid organic soils, dotriacontane and tripalmitin, from the hard surface of the QCM crystal in aqueous surfactant solutions of octa-ethyleneglycol mono n-dodecyl ether (C₁₂E₈). We have investigated the effect of varying the thickness of the soil coating on soil removal and the effect of soaking the soil in high-purity water for an extended period of time before adding surfactant. The QCM results support the view that net soil removal is preceded by a stage of water and surfactant penetration into the soil. The rate of penetration and rate of removal depends on the soil type. Water and surfactant take longer to penetrate dotriacontane compared to tripalmitin coatings. The removal process also occurs over a longer period of time in the case of dotriacontane coatings. The percentage of material removed is less for dotriacontane, compared to tripalmitin coatings. The initial coating thickness on the hard surface does not appear to govern the final percentage of soil removed, at least in the thickness range accessible to the QCM (approximately ≤800 nm). Immersing the soil coated surfaces in water for a relatively long time, hastens the onset of the removal stage after surfactant is added but does not significantly influence the rate and extent of removal from the hard surface.     

Amphiphilic guest sorption of K2[Cr3O(OOCC2H5)6(H2O)3]2[alpha-SiW12O40] ionic crystal

An ionic crystal K2[Cr3O(OOCC2H5)6(H2O)3]2[alpha-SiW12O40] x 3H2O (1a) is synthesized by the complexation of a Keggin-type polyoxometalate of [alpha-SiW12O40]4- with K+ and a macrocation of [Cr3O(OOCC2H5)6(H2O)3]+. Compound 1a possesses both hydrophilic and hydrophobic channels in the crystal lattice. The 3 mol mol(-1) of the water of crystallization in 1a resides in the hydrophilic channel. The water of crystallization is removed by the evacuation at 303 K to form the guest-free phase 1b with small changes in the lattice lengths (+/-0.2 A). The water sorption profile is reproduced by the single rate constant. Therefore, the water sorbed probably resides in the hydrophilic channel. Compound 1b sorbs various kinds of polar organic molecules, and the amounts of < or = C3 alcohols are comparable to or larger than that of water, while chlorocarbons with no hydrogen-bonding ability and nonpolar molecules are excluded. Thus, 1b showed the amphiphilic sorption property. The states of the polar organic molecules sorbed in 1b have been quantitatively investigated using ethanol as a probe molecule. The IR, NMR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies combined with the sorption kinetics reveal that ethanol molecules are mainly sorbed into the hydrophilic channel at P/P0 < or = 0.5, while the sorption into the hydrophobic channel is dominant at P/P0 > or = 0.6. Thus, it is demonstrated that ethanol molecules enter both hydrophilic and hydrophobic channels of 1b.     

The quartz crystal microbalance: a new tool for the investigation of the bioadhesion of diatoms to surfaces of differing surface energies

Diatoms are a major component of the biofoul layer found on modern low-surface-energy, 'foul release' coatings. While diatoms adhere more strongly to hydrophobic, as opposed to hydrophilic, surfaces, surprisingly little is known of the chemical composition of their adhesives. Even less is known about the underlying processes that characterize the interaction between the adhesive and a given surface, including those of differing wettability. Using the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), we examined differences in the viscoelastic properties of the extracellular adhesives produced by the marine diatoms Amphora coffeaeformis Cleve and Craspedostauros australis Cox interacting with surfaces of differing wettability; 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) that is hydrophilic and 1-undecanethiol (UDT) that is hydrophobic. While the overall delta f/delta D ratios were slightly different, the trends were the same for both diatom species, with the layer secreted upon UDT to be more viscoelastic and far more consistent over several experiments, compared to that on MUA which was less viscoelastic and demonstrated far more variability between experiments. While the nature of the parameter shifts for C. australis were the same for both surfaces, A. coffeaeformis cells settling upon UDT illustrated significant positive f and D shifts during the initial stages of cell settlement and adhesion to the surface. Further experiments revealed the parameter shifts to occur only during the initial adhesion of cells upon the pristine virgin UDT surface. The mechanism behind these parameter responses was isolated to the actin-myosin/adhesion complex (AC), using the myosin inhibitor 2,3-butanedione 2-monoxime (BDM) to remove the cells ability to 'pull' on adhesive strands emanating from the cell raphe. The observations made herein have revealed that adhesives secreted by fouling diatoms differ significantly in their interaction with surfaces depending on their wettability, as well as illustrating the unique mechanics behind the adhesion of A. coffeaeformis upon hydrophobic surfaces, a mechanism that may contribute significantly to the cells success in colonizing hydrophobic surfaces.     

Determination of the rate constant for the OH(X2Pi) + OH(X()Pi) --> O(3P) + H2O reaction over the temperature range 293-373 K

The rate constant for the reaction OH(X2Pi) + OH(X2Pi) --> O(3P) + H2O has been measured over the temperature range 293-373 K and pressure range 2.6-7.8 Torr in both Ne and Ar bath gases. The OH radical was created by 193 nm laser photolysis of N2O to produce O(1D) atoms that reacted rapidly with H2O to produce the OH radical. The OH radical was detected by quantitative time-resolved near-infrared absorption spectroscopy using Lambda-doublet resolved rotational transitions of the first overtone of OH(2,0) near 1.47 microm. The temporal concentration profiles of OH were simulated using a kinetic model, and rate constants were determined by minimizing the sum of the squares of residuals between the experimental profiles and the model calculations. At 293 K the rate constant for the title reaction was found to be (2.7 +/- 0.9) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), where the uncertainty includes an estimate of both random and systematic errors at the 95% confidence level. The rate constant was measured at 347 and 373 K and found to decrease with increasing temperature.