Forces between surfaces in electrolyte solutions

Density functional theories of solvation forces in charged fluids are extended to treat electrolytes consisting of finitesized ions and neutral solvent particles. The resulting forces display pronounced oscillations whose magnitude is a strong function of the bulk density of the neutral species.     

Forces between interfaces in concentrated nanoparticle suspensions and polyelectrolyte solutions

This article provides an overview of interactions between charged interfaces across concentrated suspensions of charged nanoparticles or solutions of polyelectrolytes. These systems bear many similarities. We distinguish the like-charged and oppositely charged situations. In the like-charged situation, a layered structure in the proximity of the interface is formed. This structure induces a strongly repulsive energy profile at shorter distances, which originates from a gap that is free of nanoparticles or polyelectrolytes. At larger distances, the profile becomes oscillatory. This energy profile can be quantified with a simple model, which distinguishes the near-field region and the far-field region. The parameters entering the model show characteristic scaling relations. In the oppositely charged situation, a saturated, tightly bound layer at the interface forms. This layer leads to a charge reversal of the interface and induces a similar layered structure as in the like-charged case.     

Mechanisms of TiO2 nanoparticle transport in porous media: role of solution chemistry, nanoparticle concentration, and flowrate

The controlled self-assembly of multi-components in one system represents the capability integrating intermolecular interactions and functions of components and is believed the key procedure leading to multifunctional materials finally. In pursuing this goal, we used a double-chain cationic surfactant with a benzoic acid group at the end of one tail to encapsulate Keggin-type polyanion clusters via electrostatic interaction, obtaining uniform supramolecular hybrid reverse micelles, which served as hydrogen-bonding donors. Five pyridine derivatives containing conjugated and non-conjugated groups were chosen as hydrogen-bonding acceptors to bind with reverse micelles. Through mixing with these components according to chemical stoichiometry, the hybrid reverse micelle changed to a new self-assembly precursor through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The as-prepared reverse micelles bearing conjugated pyridine groups exhibit supramolecular liquid crystal properties, which were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The length and number of the alky chain in the pyridine derivatives, as well as the charges of polyoxometalates were also studied with regard to the liquid crystal structure. The synergistic effect of among three components was analyzed, and the liquid crystal properties could be conveniently adjusted through the modification of the hydrogen-bonding acceptor components.     

Forces between mica surfaces, prepared in different ways, across aqueous and nonaqueous liquids confined to molecularly thin films

We have measured normal and lateral interactions across a range of different liquids between mica surfaces using a surface force balance (SFB). The mica surfaces were prepared either by melt cutting using Pt wire and standard procedures in our laboratories or by tearing sheets (that had not been exposed to Pt) off from a freshly cleaved sheet of mica. AFM micrographs revealed the substantial absence of Pt nanoparticles on the melt cut and torn-off mica surfaces. Normal-force versus surface-separation (D) profiles and shear force versus D measurements for purified water (no added salt), for concentrated aqueous NaCl solutions, and for cyclohexane revealed that in all cases the behavior of the highly confined liquids between melt-cut and between torn-off mica sheets was identical within experimental scatter. These results demonstrate directly that interactions measured between melt-cut mica surfaces as routinely prepared using established procedures in our laboratories and in other laboratories are free of the effect of any Pt contamination.     

NaCl介质中盐浓度、pH对α－Al~2O~3表面相互作用力的影响

利用原子显微镜研究NaCl介质浓度及体pH值对氧化铝表面作用力的影响规律。发现较低的盐浓度下,相互作用表示为长程排斥力,双电层厚度的实际值与理论值较好地吻合,随NaCl介质浓度的提高,双电层压缩长程斥力减弱,测定了pHMH4.0变化到9.67的作用力曲线,发现当pH等于7/90时,两表面的相互作用表现为吸引力,通过恒电荷、恒电位拟合,发现氧化铝的等电点在pH8.2处,与Zeta电位的测定结果相一致。     

Forces and friction between hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces: influence of oleate species

The atomic force microscope has been used to investigate normal surface forces and lateral friction forces at different concentrations of sodium oleate, a frequently used fatty acid in the deinking process. The measurements have been performed using the colloidal probe technique with bead materials consisting of cellulose and silica. Cellulose was used together with a printing ink alkyd resin and mica, whereas silica was used with a hydrophobized silica wafer. The cellulose-alkyd resin system showed stronger double layer repulsion and the friction was reduced with increasing surfactant concentration. The adhesive interaction disappeared immediately on addition of sodium oleate. The normal surface forces for cellulose-mica indicated no apparent adsorption of the sodium oleate however, the friction coefficient increased on addition of sodium oleate, which we ascribe to some limited adsorption increasing the effective surface roughness. The silica-hydrophobic silica system showed a completely different surface force behavior at the different concentrations. An attractive hydrophobic interaction was evident since the surfaces jumped into adhesive contact at a longer distance than the van der Waals forces would predict. The strong adhesion was reflected in the friction forces as a nonlinear relationship between load and friction and a large friction response at zero applied load. Indirect evidence of adsorption to the hydrophilic silica surface was also observed in this case, and QCM studies were performed to confirm the adsorption of material to both surfaces.     

The influence of trace water concentration on iron oxide nanoparticle size

The size of iron oxide nanoparticles, prepared from the thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)(5) in a high boiling solvent in the presence of oleic acid, is affected by water concentration, giving particles from sizes of 5.6 nm to as low as 2.2 nm.     

Mass,size and shape of micelles formed in aqueous solutions of ethoxylated nonyl-phenols

The study was extended to analysis of mass, size and conformation of micelles formed in aqueous solutions of ethoxylated nonyl phenols. The results obtained by ultracentrifugal technique between 293 and 323 K have proved that the slightly ethoxylated nonyl phenols form micelles with high molecular mass and larger size at constant temperature, while the increasing length of the ethylene oxide chain favours formation of micelles of smaller molecular mass and size. The transformation of conformation from oblate to spherical shapes ensues with increasing temperature at constant ethoxy number or with ethoxylation at constant temperature. The second virial coefficient decreases with increasing temperature and decreasing ethoxy number. In accordance with the earlier conclucions, the change of the second virial coefficient relates to enhanced variation of monomer solubility, stabilization of micelle structure and increased deviation from ideal behaviour of a given micellar system.Symbols a major axis of micelle, Å - a _m attractivity factor, cm³ erg molecule² - b minor axis of micelle, Å - c concentration, g dm^–3 - c _b equilibrium concentration at the bottom of the cell, g dm^–3 - c _m equilibrium concentration at the meniscus of the cell, g dm^–3 - c _o initial concentration in the cell, g dm^–3 - c _M critical micellization concentration, mol dm^–3 - e eccentricity - f _IS Isihara-constant - f/f _o frictional ratio of micelle - amount of water in micelle per ethoxy group, mol H₂O/mol EO - n aggregation number, monomer micelle^–1 - n _EO number of ethoxy groups - r distance of Schlieren peak from the axis, cm - r _b distance of cell bottom from the axis, cm - r _m distance of cell meniscus from the axis, cm - R _h equivalent hydrodynamic radius of micelle, Å - s _t sedimentation coefficient, s - reduced sedimentation coefficient, s - reduced limiting sedimentation coefficient, s - ¯v _t volume of micelle, cm³ micelle^–1 - partial specific volume of solute, cm³g^–1 - partial specific volume of solute reduced to 293 K, cm³ g^–1 - B _a, B_e constants, cm³ mol g^–2 - B ₂ second virial coefficient, cm³ mol g^–2 - M _m ^a mass average apparent molecular mass of micelle, g mol^–1 - M _m mass average molecular mass of micelle corrected withB ₂, g mol^–1 - M _m ^cM mass average molecular mass of micelle belonging toc _M, g mol^–1 - M ¹ mass average molecular mass of monomer, gmol^–1 - N _A the Avogadro's number, molecule mol^–1 - R universal gas constant, erg mol^–1 K^–1 - T temperature, K - _t ^o dynamic viscosity of solvent atT temperature, g cm^–1 s^–1 - dynamic viscosity of solvent at 293 K, g cm^–1 s^–1 - _t density of solution atT temperature, g cm^–3 - _t ^o density of solvent atT temperature, g cm^–3 - density of solvent at 293 K, g cm^–3 - angular velocity, rad s^–1 - time, s     

Forces between polyethylene surfaces in oxyethylene dodecyl ether solutions as influenced by the number of oxyethylene groups

The atomic force microscopy (AFM) colloidal probe technique was used to study the effect of oxyethylene dodecyl ethers, C12En (n = 1-7), on interactions between hydrophobic polyethylene (PE) surfaces in aqueous solutions. Long-range (colloidal) and contact (pull-off) forces were measured between 10 to 20 microm PE spheres and a flat PE surface at concentrations of surfactant of 1 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-4) M. The surface tension of the surfactant solutions and contact angles at PE surfaces were also studied. The influence of the number of oxyethylene groups in the surfactant molecule was examined. Initially, long-range attractive (hydrophobic) forces between the PE surfaces were observed that decreased in range and magnitude with an increase in the number of oxyethylene groups in 1 x 10(-4) M solutions. Above four oxyethylene groups per molecule, repulsive forces were observed. The measured pull-off force between PE surfaces decreased monotonically from approximately 500 mJ/m2 for C12E1 to 150 mJ/m2 for C12E7. The interfacial energy was calculated on the basis of the JKR model, taking into account long-range forces operating outside the contact area. The interfacial energies decreased from 43-47 mJ/m2 for PE-water and PE-C12E1 (1 x 10(-4) M) interfaces to approximately 18 mJ/m2 for PE-C12E7 (1 x 10(-4) M). The interfacial energy was also calculated from measured contact angles and surface tensions using Neumann's equation of state and Young's equation. A similar relationship between interfacial energy and the number of oxyethylene groups was observed on the basis of contact and surface tension measurements. However, interfacial energy values were smaller, within 15-20 mJ/m2, than those calculated from AFM pull-off force measurements.     

Adsorption of organic acids on TiO2 nanoparticles: effects of pH, nanoparticle size, and nanoparticle aggregation

In this study, the adsorption of two organic acids, oxalic acid and adipic acid, on TiO2 nanoparticles was investigated at room temperature, 298 K. Solution-phase measurements were used to quantify the extent and reversibility of oxalic acid and adipic acid adsorption on anatase nanoparticles with primary particle sizes of 5 and 32 nm. At all pH values considered, there were minimal differences in measured Langmuir adsorption constants, K ads, or surface-area-normalized maximum adsorbate-surface coverages, Gamma max, between 5 and 32 nm particles. Although macroscopic differences in the reactivity of these organic acids as a function of nanoparticle size were not observed, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy showed some distinct differences in the absorption bands present for oxalic acid adsorbed on 5 nm particles compared to 32 nm particles, suggesting different adsorption sites or a different distribution of adsorption sites for oxalic acid on the 5 nm particles. These results illustrate that molecular-level differences in nanoparticle reactivity can still exist even when macroscopic differences are not observed from solution phase measurements. Our results also allowed the impact of nanoparticle aggregation on acid uptake to be assessed. It is clear that particle aggregation occurs at all pH values and that organic acids can destabilize nanoparticle suspensions. Furthermore, 5 nm particles can form larger aggregates compared to 32 nm particles under the same conditions of pH and solid concentrations. The relative reactivity of 5 and 32 nm particles as determined from Langmuir adsorption parameters did not appear to vary greatly despite differences that occur in nanoparticle aggregation for these two different size nanoparticles. Although this potentially suggests that aggregation does not impact organic acid uptake on anatase particles, these data clearly show that challenges remain in assessing the available surface area for adsorption in nanoparticle aqueous suspensions because of aggregation.     

Forces between thiolate-modified gold surfaces in a melt of end-functionalized polymers

To better understand surface forces across polymer melts, we measured the force between two chemically well-defined solid surfaces in a melt of polymer chains with a functional end group. As for surfaces, we used self-assembed monolayers (SAMs) of alkyl thiols with different end groups (methyl, amino, and hydroxyl) on gold. The polymer was a hydroxyl-terminated polyisoprene. To measure the force, an atomic force microscope was used. Between methyl-terminated SAMs, a weak and short-range repulsion was detected. Between hydroxyl or amino-terminated SAMs, a strong and long-range repulsion was observed up to distances of 16 nm. This indicates that the hydroxyl group of the polymer binds to the hydroxyl or amino groups of the SAMs. It forms a brush-like structure, which leads to steric repulsion. On amino-terminated SAMs, force-versus-distance curves on approach and retraction were monotonically repulsive and reversible. With hydroxyl-terminated SAMs, a jump was observed on approach when the load exceeded a certain threshold. On retraction, an adhesion had to be overcome. We interpret the jump as a rupture of the polymer layer. It indicates that the kinetics of bond and brush formation is faster on OH-SAMs than on NH2-SAMs.     

Tactoids of plate-like particles: size, shape, and director field

We studied, by means of polarized light microscopy, the shape and director field of nematic tactoids as a function of their size in dispersions of colloidal gibbsite platelets in polar and apolar solvents. Because of the homeotropic anchoring of the platelets to the interface, we found large tactoids to be spherical with a radial director field, whereas small tactoids turn out to have an oblate shape and a homogeneous director field, in accordance with theoretical predictions. The transition from a radial to a homogeneous director field seems to proceed via two different routes depending in our case on the solvent. In one route, the what presumably is a hedgehog point defect in the center of the tactoid transforms into a ring defect with a radius that presumably goes to infinity with decreasing drop size. In the other route, the hedgehog defect is displaced from the center to the edge of the tactoid, where it becomes virtual again going to infinity with decreasing drop size. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of the tactoid properties provides us with useful information on the ratio of the splay elastic constant and the anchoring strength and the ratio of the anchoring strength and the surface tension.     

The shape,size and flow behaviors of micelle forming various synthetic tannin materials in aqueous solutions

The results of viscometric and optical microscopic studies indicated that both Syntan 25 and Syntan PUR in aqueous concentrated solutions (above their c.m.c. values) at 25 °C are spherical in shape. The size and other physico-chemical parameters e. g. Volumes of the aggregated particleM _v, Radius of gyrationR _g, Hydrodynamic radius ¯R _h, Diffusion coefficient ¯D, and the Correlation times for aggregate rotationT _r Translational diffusionT _D and effective aggregation timeT _a have been derived on the basis of microscopic results. The viscosity data for both Syntan 25 and Syntan PUR were analysed in terms of Einstein equation, Moulik equation, Jones-Dole equation. It has been shown that Syntan PUR was more highly hydrated than that of Syntan 25 although the intrinsic viscosity [η], of Syntan PUR is nearly 1.5 times greater than that of Syntan 25. The Flory-Huggins equation and Thomas equation has been compared in both the Syntans and it has been concluded that the Thomas' constantk ₁ may be 12.50 for perfect spherical shape of the particle instead of 10.05 (which has originally been proposed by Thomas).     

Forces between silica surfaces with adsorbed cationic surfactants: influence of salt and added nonionic surfactants

Forces have been measured between silica surfaces with adsorbed surfactants by means of a bimorph surface force apparatus. The surfactants used are the cationic surfactant tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and the nonionic surfactant hexakis(ethylene glycol) mono-n-tetradecyl ether (C(14)E(6)) as well as mixtures of these two surfactants. The measurements were made at elevated pH, and the effect of salt was studied. At high pH the glass surface is highly charged, which increases the adsorption of TTAB. Despite the low adsorption generally seen for nonionic surfactants on silica at high pH, addition of C(14)E(6) has a considerable effect on the surface forces between two glass surfaces in a TTAB solution. The barrier force is hardly affected, but the adhesion is reduced remarkably. Also, addition of salt decreases the adhesion, but increases the barrier force. In the presence of salt, addition of C(14)E(6) also increases the thickness of the adsorbed layer. The force barrier height is also shown to be related to literature values for surface pressure data in these systems.     

Nanoparticle adsorption at liquid-vapor surfaces: influence of nanoparticle thermodynamics, wettability, and line tension

We developed a statistical mechanical theory that describes the adsorption of nanoparticles (NPs) at liquid-vapor surfaces. This theory accounts for the surface to bulk NP thermodynamic equilibrium, as well as the NP mechanical equilibrium, wettability, and line tension at liquid-vapor surfaces. The theory is tested by examining the adsorption of 5 nm diameter dodecanethiol-ligated gold NPs at the liquid-vapor surface of a homologous series of n-alkane solvents, from n-nonane to n-octadecane, where the NP wettability decreases with an increasing n-alkane chain length.     

Supramolecular self-organization in PEO-modified C60 fullerene/water solutions: influence of polymer molecular weight and nanoparticle concentration

Utilizing a first-principles-based coarse-grained implicit solvent model, we have investigated the self-association of C(60) fullerenes that have been symmetrically modified with six grafted poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains in aqueous solution. Despite the highly symmetric nature of the pair interactions between PEO-grafted fullerenes, their supramolecular assemblies are highly anisotropic and resemble the linear clusters formed in Stockmayer fluids. The dipole-like interaction between these symmetrically modified fullerenes results from the shielding of the C(60) fullerenes by PEO, favoring the addition of more PEO-grafted fullerenes to the linear clusters at the relatively unprotected ends. At low nanoparticle concentrations, self-association is dominated by the formation of stable dimers and trimers resulting from fullerene-fullerene contact and favorable PEO-fullerene interactions. With increasing nanoparticle concentration, larger clusters become increasingly probable. The molecular weight of the PEO tethers can be treated as a temperature-like analogue, with a reduction in average cluster size with increasing chain length due to increased steric repulsion, which is qualitatively similar to effects observed in Stockmayer fluids with increasing temperature. The role of PEO in supramolecular self-organization in PEO-modified C(60) fullerene/water solutions is complex, contributing not only to steric stabilization but also to favorable energetic interactions, nanoparticle shielding, and depletion-driven aggregation.     

Sorting cells by size, shape and deformability

While size has been widely used as a parameter in cellular separations, in this communication we show how shape and deformability, a mainly untapped source of specificity in preparative and analytical microfluidic devices can be measured and used to separate cells.     

Stick-slip of evaporating droplets: substrate hydrophobicity and nanoparticle concentration

The dynamics of the three-phase contact line for water and ethanol is experimentally investigated using substrates of various hydrophobicities. Different evolutions of the droplet profile (contact line, R, and contact angle, θ) are found to be dependent on the hydrophobicity of the substrate. A simple theoretical approach based on the unbalanced Young force is used to explain the depinning of the contact line on hydrophilic surfaces or the monotonic slip on hydrophobic substrates. The second part of the article involves the addition of different quantities of titanium oxide nanoparticles to water, and a comparison of the evaporative behavior of these novel fluids with the base liquid (water) on substrates varying in hydrophobicity (i.e., silicon, Cytop, and PTFE) is presented. The observed stick-slip behavior is found to be dependent on the nanoparticle concentration. The evaporation rate is closely related to the dynamics of the contact line. These findings may have an important impact when considering the evaporation of droplets on different substrates and/or those containing nanoparticles.