Steric repulsion between internal aqueous droplets and the external aqueous phase in double emulsions

A theoretical model for analyzing the steric repulsion energy between internal aqueous droplets and the external aqueous phase in double emulsions, which results from the steric interaction between the surfactant molecules adsorbed at the two interfaces, has been established. The steric interaction is dependent on the separation distance between the internal aqueous droplets and the external aqueous phase, the thicknesses of the two adsorbed surfactant layers, and the size of the internal aqueous droplets and the oil globules, all of which determine the extent of the compression of the adsorbed surfactant molecules. The thickness of each of the two surfactant layers have the same effect on the steric repulsion, and stronger steric interaction can be achieved with thicker adsorbed layers, which can effectively prevent coalescence between the internal aqueous droplets and the external aqueous phase. Increasing the internal aqueous droplet size can produce stronger steric repulsion; however, larger oil globules will weaken the steric repulsion, indicating that a more stable double-emulsion system can be achieved by preparing the system with smaller oil globules and larger internal aqueous droplets.     

Fully retarded van der Waals interaction between dielectric nanoclusters

The van der Waals (dispersion) interaction between an atom and a cluster or between two clusters at large separation is calculated by considering each cluster as a point particle, characterized by a polarizability tensor. For the extreme limit of very large separation, the fully retarded regime, one needs to know just the static polarizability in order to determine the interaction. This polarizability is evaluated by including all many-body (MB) intracluster atomic interactions self-consistently. The results of these calculations are compared with those obtained from various alternative methods. One is to consider each cluster as a collection of many atoms and evaluate the sum of two-body interatomic interactions, a common assumption. An alternative method is to include three-body atomic interactions as a MB correction term in the total energy. A comparison of these results reveals that the contribution of the higher-than-three-body MB interactions is always attractive and non-negligible even at such a large separation, in contrast to common assumptions. The procedure employed is quite general and is applicable, in principle, to any shape or size of dielectric cluster. We present numerical results for clusters composed of atoms with polarizability consistent with silica, for which the higher-than-three-body MB correction term can be as high as 42% of the atomic pairwise sum. This result is quite sensitive to the anisotropy and orientation of the cluster, in contrast to the result found in the additive case. We also present a power law expansion of the total van der Waals interaction as a series of n-body interaction terms.     

Compartmentalization and separation of aqueous reagents in the water droplets of water-in-oil high internal phase emulsions

We have compartmentalized aqueous reagents and indicator species within the micrometer-sized water droplets of mixed high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). Mass transport of the reagents across the micrometer-thickness oil films separating the water droplets followed by reaction with the indicator species produces a visible color change which provides a simple method to measure the trapping times of the reagents. Trapping times have been measured for an uncharged reagent (hydrogen peroxide) and charged reagents (HCl and NaClO) in different HIPEs. The trapping times are discussed in terms of a model in which the transferring species partitions from the water to the oil film followed by a rate-determining step of diffusion across the oil film. Rather surprisingly, it is found that trapping times are of similar orders of magnitude for both uncharged and charged aqueous species transferring across liquid oil films.     

Universal curves for the van der Waals interaction between single-walled carbon nanotubes

We report very simple and accurate algebraic expressions for the van der Waals (VDW) potentials and the forces between two parallel and crossed carbon nanotubes. The Lennard-Jones potential for two carbon atoms and the method of the smeared-out approximation suggested by Girifalco were used. It is found that the interaction between parallel and crossed tubes is described by two universal curves for parallel and crossed configurations that do not depend on the van der Waals constants, the angle between tubes, and the surface density of atoms and their nature but only on the dimensionless distance. The explicit functions for equilibrium VDW distances, well depths, and maximal attractive forces have been given. These results may be used as a guide for the analysis of experimental data to investigate the interaction between nanotubes of various natures.     

The van der Waals interaction between protein molecules in an electrolyte solution

In this report we present a general formulation to calculate the van der Waals interaction between two protein molecules in an electrolyte solution using boundary element method of solving linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation. Our formulation is based upon an inhomogeneous dielectric model of proteins at the residue level. Our results for bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor at various relative orientations indicate that the anisotropy of the interaction can be tens of kBT.     

Rank-1 approximation to the van der Waals interaction

We present and discuss a variational single-product approximation to the van der Waals dispersion interaction leading to a simple formula for C ₆ that seems capable to give more than 99% of the ‘exact’ value. The formula is derived from Hylleraas’ variational principle in the tensor product space of the interacting molecules and therefore enjoys bounding properties. The formula has been tested by computing the C ₆ dispersion constants of H–H, and, at Full CI level, of the following systems: He–He, He–Li, Li–Li, LiH–LiH, HF–HF. Connections with the London formula are discussed. Contribution to the Fernando Bernardi Memorial Issue.     

van der Waals interaction of simple, parallel polymers

We study the mutual interactions of simple parallel polymers within the framework of density-functional theory (DFT). As the conventional implementations of DFT do not treat the long-range dispersion [van der Waals (vdW)] interactions, we develop a systematic correction scheme for the nonlocal energy contribution of the polymer interaction at the intermediate to the asymptotic separations. We primarily focus on the three polymers, polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, and isotactic polyvinylchloride, but the scheme presented applies also more generally to other simple polymers. From first-principle calculations we extract the geometrical and electronic structures of the polymers and the local part of their interaction energy, as well as the static electric response. The dynamic electrodynamic response is modeled on the basis of these static calculations, from which the nonlocal vdW interaction of the polymers is extracted.     

A model for selective ion adsorption including van der Waals interaction

A model for the selective adsorption phenomenon in an isotropic liquid accounting for a van der Waals interaction between the ions and the surface is presented, in the framework of the Poisson-Boltzmann theory. The fundamental equations governing the electric field distribution are exactly solved for low and high potential regimes.     

Computational Study of van der Waals Complexes between Borylenes and Hydrocarbons

The addition of borylenes (RB) to prototypical carbon?carbon multiple bonds (ethyne, ethene) and the insertion into a C?H bond of methane involves weakly bound van der Waals complexes of the reaction partners according to computational chemistry methods. Geometries of all complexes were optimized using spin‐component scaled second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (SCS‐MP2) in combination with a quadruple‐ζ (def2‐QZVP) basis set. Energies were further refined using the coupled‐cluster (CCSD(T)) method in combination with basis sets up to quadruple‐ζ quality (def2‐QZVP and aug‐cc‐pVTZ). All of the complexes of borylenes studied correspond to shallow minima on their potential‐energy surfaces. Borylene complexes with ethyne are the most stable and those with methane are the least stable ones. Aminoborylene complexes BNHR with ethyne and ethene are stabilized mainly by NH ??? π interactions. Symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) was performed to analyze the nature of the interaction between borylene molecules and hydrocarbons. Most of the ethyne complexes are dominated by electrostatic interactions, whereas for most of the ethene and all of the methane complexes the interaction is mainly dispersive.     

On the role of van der Waals interaction in chemical reactions at low temperatures

It is shown that van der Waals interaction potential plays a crucial role in chemical reactions at low temperatures. By taking the Cl+HD reaction as an illustrative example, we demonstrate that quasibound states of the van der Waals potential preferentially undergo chemical reaction rather than vibrational predissociation. Prereaction occurs even when the wave functions of the quasibound states peak far out into the entrance channel, outside the region of the van der Waals well. It is found that chemical reaction dominates over nonreactive vibrational quenching in collisions of vibrationally excited HD molecules with ground state chlorine atoms at ultracold temperatures.     

A density functional theory study of van der Waals interaction in carbon nanotubes

In this article, we investigate the effect of van der Waals force in zigzag carbon nanotubes (CNTs) including single-wall CNT (SWCNT) and double-walled CNT (DWCNT) structures with several interaction configurations. The solid-state density functional theory is employed to calculate the geometric optimization, normal mode frequencies, and IR and Raman spectra with the periodic boundary condition. For SWCNTs, we find that the Raman intensity is not affected by the tube diameter or the electronic structure. The IR absorption, however, increases with the tube diameter. We find that the close metallicity of the electronic structure has a significant impact on the IR simulations. When the van der Waals force is applied outside the CNTs at a distance longer than 3.0, the effect on Raman spectra is minimal but some effects can still be confirmed by IR absorption. When the van der Waals force acts inside the CNTs, the effect on the spectrum can be observed, especially at a distance of 2.8 Å, both IR and Raman can be significantly enhanced in many modes.     

The “hydrophobic effect”: Essentially a van der Waals interaction

Summary It has been shown thermodynamically, and illustrated by means of a typical example, that the preferential attraction between hydrophobic determinants immersed in water, commonly alluded to as the hydrophobic effect, can be entirely ascribed to van der Waals interactions. Quantitatively, in water, the attraction between two hydrophobic determinants is stronger than the attraction between a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic determinant, although the latter attraction is not so small as to be negligible. The interaction between hydrophilic determinants in water is attractive but small and may be easily overwhelmed by the electrostatic repulsion which occurs between such entities.There is no repulsion by the solvent. On the contrary, the attraction between water and a hydrophobic material as well as between water and a hydrophilic material is strong. This interaction does play a role in determining the overall strength of the interaction between hydrophobic and hydrophilic determinants but cannot render the attraction between such determinants negligible. The attraction between hydrophobic and hydrophilic determinants in an aqueous medium can be made exeedingly small and may indeed (after lowering the surface tension of the liquid) be changed into a repulsion. The latter phenomenon is used in the elution step of the protein separation method called hydrophobic chromatography.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird auf thermodynamischer Grundlage gezeigt und an Hand eines typischen Beispiels erläutert, daß die Anziehung zwischen hydrophoben Partikel in Wasser vollständig durch van der Waals-Wechselwirkungen erklärt werden kann. Die Anziehung zwischen solchen Teilchen oder Molekülen ist stärker als die Anziehung zwischen hydrophoben und hydrophilen Partikeln in Wasser, die jedoch nicht vernachlässigbar klein ist. Die Wechselwirkung zwischen hydrophilen Partikeln ist so klein, daß sie leicht von elektrostatischen Wechselwirkungen überdeckt werden kann.Eine Abstoßung durch das Lösungsmittel findet nicht statt. Im Gegenteil, die Anziehung zwischen Wasser und einem hydrophoben Material ebenso wie diejenige zwischen Wasser und einem hydrophilen Material ist beträchtlich. Diese Wechselwirkung spielt zwar eine Rolle in der gesamten Wechselwirkung zwischen hydrophoben und hydrophilen Partikeln, kann aber die Anziehung zwischen hydrophob und hydrophil in Wasser nicht zum Verschwinden bringen. Die Wechselwirkung zwischen hydrophob und hydrophil kann jedoch durch Erniedrigung der Oberflächenspannung des Wassers abstoßend gemacht werden. Dieser Umstand wird im Elutionsschritt des als hydrophobe Chromatographie bekannten Verfahrens zur Trennung von Proteinen benutzt.

     

Investigation of the distinction between van der Waals interaction and chemical bonding based on the PAEM‐MO diagram

In recent years, the basic problem of understanding chemical bonding, nonbonded, and/or van der Waals interactions has been intensively debated in terms of various theoretical methods. We propose and construct the potential acting on one electron in a molecule‐molecular orbital (PAEM‐MO) diagram, which draws the PAEM inserted the MO energy levels with their major atomic orbital components. PAEM‐MO diagram is able to show clear distinction of chemical bonding from nonbonded and/or vdW interactions. The rule for this is as follows. Along the line connecting two atoms in a molecule or a complex, the existence of chemical bonding between these two atoms needs to satisfy two conditions: (a) a critical point of PAEM exists and (b) PAEM barrier between the two atoms is lower in energy than the occupied major valence‐shell bonding MO which contains in‐phase atomic components (positive overlap) of the two considered atoms. In contrast to the chemical bonding, for a nonbonded interaction or van der Waals interaction between two atoms, both conditions (a) and (b) do not be satisfied at the same time. This is demonstrated and discussed by various typical cases, particularly those related to helium atom and H? H bonding in phenanthrene. There are helium bonds in HHeF and HeBeO molecules, whereas no H? H bonding in phenanthrene. The validity and limitation for this rule is demonstrated through the investigations of the curves of the PAEM barrier top and MO energies versus the internuclear distances for He₂, H₂, and He₂⁺ systems. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Electronic,spectra, and spin orbit interaction for FrAr van der Waals system

The potential energy curves and spectroscopic constants of the ground and many excited states of the FrAr van der Waals system have been determined using a one‐electron pseudopotential approach. The Fr⁺ core and the electron–Ar interactions are replaced by effective potentials. The Fr⁺Ar core–core interaction is incorporated using the accurate CCSD(T) potential of Hickling et al. (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2004, 6, 4233). This approach reduces the number of active electrons of the FrAr van der Waals system to only one valence electron, which permits the use of very large basis sets for the Fr and Ar atoms. Using this technique, the potential energy curves of the ground and many excited states are calculated at the self consistent field (SCF) level. In addition, the spin–orbit interaction is also considered using the semiempirical scheme for the states dissociating into Fr (7p) and Fr (8p). The FrAr system is not studied previously and its potential interactions, spectroscopic constants and dipole functions are presented here for the first time. Furthermore, we have predicted the X²Σ⁺–A²Π_1/2, X²Σ⁺–AΠ_3/2, X²Σ⁺–B²Σ_1/2⁺, X²Σ⁺–3²Π_1/2, X²Σ⁺–3²Π_3/2, and X²Σ⁺–5²Σ_1/2⁺ absorption spectra. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

van der Waals forces between nanoclusters: importance of many-body effects

van der Waals interactions between nanoclusters have been calculated with a self-consistent, coupled dipole method. The method accounts for all many-body (MB) effects. Comparison is made between the exact potential energy, V, and the values obtained with two alternative methods: the sum of two-body interactions and the sum of two-body and three-body interactions. For all cases considered, the three-body term alone does not accurately represent the MB contributions to V. MB contributions are especially large for shape-anisotropic clusters.     

Water monomer interaction with gold nanoclusters from van der Waals density functional theory

We investigate the interaction between water molecules and gold nanoclusters Au(n) through a systematic density functional theory study within both the generalized gradient approximation and the nonlocal van der Waals (vdW) density functional theory. Both planar (n = 6-12) and three-dimensional (3D) clusters (n = 17-20) are studied. We find that applying vdW density functional theory leads to an increase in the Au-Au bond length and a decrease in the cohesive energy for all clusters studied. We classify water adsorption on nanoclusters according to the corner, edge, and surface adsorption geometries. In both corner and edge adsorptions, water molecule approaches the cluster through the O atom. For planar clusters, surface adsorption occurs in a O-up/H-down geometry with water plane oriented nearly perpendicular to the cluster. For 3D clusters, water instead favors a near-flat surface adsorption geometry with the water O atom sitting nearly atop a surface Au atom, in agreement with previous study on bulk surfaces. Including vdW interaction increases the adsorption energy for the weak surface adsorption but reduces the adsorption energy for the strong corner adsorption due to increased water-cluster bond length. By analyzing the adsorption induced charge rearrangement through Bader's charge partitioning and electron density difference and the orbital interaction through the projected density of states, we conclude that the bonding between water and gold nanocluster is determined by an interplay between electrostatic interaction and covalent interaction involving both the water lone-pair and in-plane orbitals and the gold 5d and 6s orbitals. Including vdW interaction does not change qualitatively the physical picture but does change quantitatively the adsorption structure due to the fluxionality of gold nanoclusters.