Preparation of functional composite grafted particles PDMAEMA/SiO2 and preliminarily study on functionality

Micron-sized silica gel particles were first surface-modified with coupling agent, γ-methacryloylpropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS), and the polymerizable double bonds were introduced onto the surfaces of silica gel particles, forming the modified particles MPS-SiO₂. Subsequently, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was graft-polymerized on the surfaces of particles MPS-SiO₂ in the manner of “grafting through”, resulting in the grafted particles PDMAEMA/SiO₂. The grafted particles PDMAEMA/SiO₂ were fully characterized with several means. The graft polymerization process of DMAEMA on particles MPS-SiO₂ was studied in detail, and the optimal reaction conditions were determined. Thereafter, the adsorption properties of the grafted particles PDMAEMA/SiO₂ for chromate anion and Cu²⁺ ion were preliminarily examined respectively. The experimental results indicate that the PDMAEMA grafting degree on PDMAEMA/SiO₂ particles is limited because an enwinding polymer layer as a kinetic barrier on the surfaces of silica gel particles will be formed during the graft polymerization, and blocks the graft polymerization. In order to enhance PDMAEMA grafting degree, reaction time and temperature, and the used amount of initiator as well as the monomer concentration should be effectively controlled. The preliminary adsorption tests show that the grafted particles PDMAEMA/SiO₂ are multi-functional. They possess very strong adsorption ability for CrO₄²⁻ anion by right of strong electrostatic interaction, and have also adsorption action towards heavy metal ion by dint of complexing action.     

Field electron emission images of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Field electron emission microscope images from multi-walled carbon nanotubes can typically be characterized by the presence of five pentagons surrounding a sixth central pentagon. The observations of bright line centered interference patterns between adjacent pentagons in the field electron emission microscope images of multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been reported in the literature. We have observed a shift from bright to dark line centered interference patterns and associated this with the presence of surface adsorption. In order to identify the origin of the contaminant, multi-walled carbon nanotubes were dosed with H₂, H₂O, CO and O₂ and then imaged in the field electron emission microscope. Only the samples exposed to O₂ showed a shift from a bright line centered pattern between adjacent pentagons of a clean surface to a dark line centered pattern when one pentagon was contaminated or a bright line centered pattern when both adjacent pentagons become contaminated. The results of the experimental studies and the modeling of the changes in the field emission pattern as phase shifts in the wave function of the tunneling electrons due to modifications in the surface work function are presented.     

A multi-scale Monte Carlo study of oxide structures on the Cu(1 0 0) surface

We present a multi-scale Monte Carlo study of the oxidation of the Cu(1 0 0) surface based on the Bortz-Kalos-Lebowitz model with the equilibrium energetics obtained from ab initio calculations. The radial and island size distribution functions are examined and Cu-O structures are analyzed at different temperatures and coverages. We concentrate on the coverages of 0.3 monolayer O or less, with variable sub-monolayer coverages of Cu. The results show that even though the ab initio calculations yield a higher barrier for O than for Cu adatom diffusion on Cu(1 0 0), the stability of Cu structures causes the O adatoms to be more mobile on the Cu(1 0 0) surface than the Cu adatoms. We are able to reproduce the c(2 × 2)-O domains seen in the experiments. However, we give an alternative explanation based on the repulsive interactions of O that, on one hand, cause the local ordering and, on the other hand, prohibits large well-ordered domains. We also give interpretation on the formation of the R45°-O reconstruction of Cu(1 0 0) above the O coverages of 0.3 monolayer based on the ab initio energetics.     

Study on Adsorption States by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

SERS has been used as a state-resolving probe to study the adsorption states. in the case of pyridine (Py) adsorbed on the Ag electrode surface, the equilibrium and transition between two adsorbed states, i.e., the perpendicular mode adsorbed through the nitrogen lone-pair electrons and the flat mode through the π electrons of the aromatic ring, were studied. It was found that in the low pyridine concentration or the initial stage of adsorption, the flat mode was favored. While the concentration became higher and the adsorption tended to equilibrium, the adsorbed molecules would transit to the perpendicular mode. The similar phenomenon was also observed when changing the applied electric potential and the pH value of the solution. In the case of the adsorption of Methylene Blue (MB) on the HNO₃-etched silver surface, the influence of Cl^? ions on the adsorption states of MB was investigated. It showed that MB molecules adsorbed on the silver surface tended to transform from the “lying-down” state to the “end-on” state while adding Cl^? ions.     

Lattice-Boltzmann simulations of dynamic interfacial tension due to soluble amphiphilic surfactant

An amphiphilic Lattice-Boltzmann approach is adopted to model dynamic interfacial tension due to non-ionic surfactant. In the current system, the surfactant adsorption kinetics is diffusion dominated and the interface separates two immiscible fluids. A rotational relaxation time and a diffusive/viscous relaxation time are associated with the surfactant. The model results are compared with experimental data for the dynamic interfacial tension of a pendant oil droplet in water, with oil soluble surfactant. We demonstrate how to adapt and calibrate the model to capture the adsorption timescale of the surfactant and the magnitude of interfacial tension reduction due to surfactant. A scheme to overcome numerical instabilities due to the relatively low surfactant concentration, is devised. We are able to qualitatively match the Frumkin equation of state for the interfacial tension.     

Adsorption of CO, NH3 and O2 on Fe site of La0.875Sr0.125FeO3 (0 1 0) surface by density function theory calculation

The adsorption of CO, NH₃ and O₂ gas molecules on Fe site of La_0.875Sr_0.125FeO₃ (0 1 0) surface has been investigated based on the density functional theory (DFT) with the spin polarized generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The optimal adsorption orientations as well as the adsorption energies for these molecules adsorption on Fe site of La_0.875Sr_0.125FeO₃ (0 1 0) surface are derived. Results show that adsorption configurations with C-down for CO, N-down for NH₃ are stable. For the O₂ molecule adsorption, the mode with an angle about 120° between the oxygen molecule and La_0.875Sr_0.125FeO₃ (0 1 0) surface is stable.     

DNA adsorption and desorption on mica surface studied by atomic force microscopy

The adsorption of DNA molecules on mica surface and the following desorption of DNA molecules at ethanol-mica interface were studied using atomic force microscopy. By changing DNA concentration, different morphologies on mica surface have been observed. A very uniform and orderly monolayer of DNA molecules was constructed on the mica surface with a DNA concentration of 30 ng/μL. When the samples were immersed into ethanol for about 15 min, various desorption degree of DNA from mica (0-99%) was achieved. It was found that with the increase of DNA concentration, the desorption degree of DNA from the mica at ethanol-mica interface decreased. And when the uniform and orderly DNA monolayers were formed on the mica surface, almost no DNA molecule desorbed from the mica surface in this process. The results indicated that the uniform and orderly DNA monolayer is one of the most stable DNA structures formed on the mica surface. In addition, we have studied the structure change of DNA molecules after desorbed from the mica surface with atomic force microscopy, and found that the desorption might be ascribed to the ethanol-induced DNA condensation.     

Understanding the adsorption of 4H-1,2,4-triazole derivatives on mild steel surface in molar hydrochloric acid

This study examines the use of some 4H-triazole derivatives, namely 3,5-diphenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole (DHT), 3,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (4-PHT) and 3,5-bis(4-methyltiophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (4-MTHT) for corrosion and dissolution protection of mild steel in normal hydrochloric acid solution. The inhibiting efficiency of the different additives is evaluated by means of weight loss and electrochemical techniques such as ac impedance measurements and polarisation curves. The experimental results obtained reveal that 4-MTHT is the best effective inhibitor and the inhibition efficiency is found to be in the following order: 4-MTHT > 4-PHT > DHT. The variation in inhibitive efficiency mainly depends on the type and nature of the substituents present in the inhibitor molecule. Polarisation curves show that theses triazoles are mixed-type inhibitors in 1 M HCl. The inhibition efficiency increases with 4H-triazole derivatives concentration and attains the maximum value of 99.6% in the case of 4-MTHT at 5 × 10⁻⁴ M. The results obtained from weight loss electrochemical studies were in reasonable agreement. The adsorption of 4H-triazole derivatives on the steel surface obeys to the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic data of adsorption and activation are determined and discussed. The fundamental thermodynamic functions were used to glean important information about the 4H-triazoles inhibitory behaviour. Molecular modeling was used to get better insight, about structural and electronic effects in relation to the inhibition efficiencies.     

Ethylene and phenylene bridged polysilsesquioxanes functionalized by amine and thiol groups as adsorbents of volatile organic compounds

Ethylene and phenylene bridged polysilsesquioxane xerogels having amine and thiol groups attached to the surface have been obtained by the sol-gel method from 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane or 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene and functionalized silanes in the presence of an ammonium fluoride catalyst in an ethanol solution. The synthesized samples have a porous structure (700-850 m²/g) and a high content of functional groups (1.4-1.9 mmol/g). The obtained porous bridged polysilsesquioxanes exhibit a considerable affinity for adsorbing several organic compounds (n-hexane, n-heptane, benzene, cyclohexane, acetonitrile and triethylamine) from the gas phase. The sample with an ethylene bridge and amino groups in the surface layer has the highest uptake of all compounds. Data from adsorption measurements show that functionalized organosilicon materials can be used as effective adsorbents of organic contaminants from the gas phase.     

Penetration of ammonia molecule into ice film; activation energy analysis using Xe molecular beam irradiation

We have investigated the barrier energy for an ammonia molecule to penetrate into ice film by the use of infrared spectroscopy and Xe supersonic beam. After the ice film on a Pt(1 1 1) surface is exposed to ammonia molecules, an umbrella mode of ammonia molecules adsorbed on the ice film has been observed in infrared spectra. After the irradiation of accelerated Xe beam, we observed an energy shift of the mode of ammonia. The shifted mode is assigned to that of ammonia molecules at the interface between the ice film and the Pt(1 1 1) surface. This indicates that the collision with Xe beam induced the penetration of an ammonia molecule to the interface through the ice film. Using this feature, we estimate a barrier for penetration as 0.28 ± 0.03 eV which is much smaller than the one previously reported for bulk ice.