Ion adsorption at the rutile-water interface: linking molecular and macroscopic properties

A comprehensive picture of the interface between aqueous solutions and the (110) surface of rutile (alpha-TiO2) is being developed by combining molecular-scale and macroscopic approaches, including experimental measurements, quantum calculations, molecular simulations, and Gouy-Chapman-Stern models. In situ X-ray reflectivity and X-ray standing-wave measurements are used to define the atomic arrangement of adsorbed ions, the coordination of interfacial water molecules, and substrate surface termination and structure. Ab initio calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, validated through direct comparison with the X-ray results, are used to predict ion distributions not measured experimentally. Potentiometric titration and ion adsorption results for rutile powders having predominant (110) surface expression provide macroscopic constraints of electrical double layer (EDL) properties (e.g., proton release) which are evaluated by comparison with a three-layer EDL model including surface oxygen proton affinities calculated using ab initio bond lengths and partial charges. These results allow a direct correlation of the three-dimensional, crystallographically controlled arrangements of various species (H2O, Na+, Rb+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Zn2+, Y3+, Nd3+) with macroscopic observables (H+ release, metal uptake, zeta potential) and thermodynamic/electrostatic constraints. All cations are found to be adsorbed as "inner sphere" species bonded directly to surface oxygen atoms, while the specific binding geometries and reaction stoichiometries are dependent on ionic radius. Ternary surface complexes of sorbed cations with electrolyte anions are not observed. Finally, surface oxygen proton affinities computed using the MUSIC model are improved by incorporation of ab initio bond lengths and hydrogen bonding information derived from MD simulations. This multitechnique and multiscale approach demonstrates the compatibility of bond-valence models of surface oxygen proton affinities and Stern-based models of the EDL structure, with the actual molecular interfacial distributions observed experimentally, revealing new insight into EDL properties including specific binding sites and hydration states of sorbed ions, interfacial solvent properties (structure, diffusivity, dielectric constant), surface protonation and hydrolysis, and the effect of solution ionic strength.     

Rapid crack growth in a thermoelastic solid under mixed-mode thermomechanical loading

A two-dimensional steady-sate analysis of semi-infinite brittlecrack growth at a constant subcritical rate in an unboundedfully-coupled thermoelastic solid under mixed-mode thermomechanicalloading is made. The loading consists of normal and shear tractionsand heat fluxes applied as point sources (line loads in theout-of-plane direction). A related problem is solved exactly in an integral transformspace, and robust asymptotic forms used to reduce the originalproblem to a set of integral equations. The equations are partiallycoupled and exhibit operators of both Cauchy and Abel types,yet can be solved analytically. The temperature change field at a distance from the moving crackedge is then constructed, and its dominant term is found tobe controlled by the imposed heat fluxes. The role of this termis, indeed, enhanced if the heat fluxes serve to render thecrack as a net heat source/sink for the solid, as opposed tobeing a transmitter of heat across its plane. More generally,the influence of the thermoelastic coupling on this field, aswell as other functions, is found to increase with crack speed.     

Solubility of Zinc Silicate and Zinc Ferrite in Aqueous Solution to High Temperatures

Crystalline zinc silicate, Zn₂SiO₄, and zinc ferrite, ZnFe₂O₄, were prepared and characterized. The solubilities of these phases were measured using flow-through apparatus from 50 to 350 °C in 100 °C intervals over a wide range of pH. Both solid phases dissolve incongruently, presumably to form ZnO(s) and Fe₂O₃(s) (or the corresponding hydroxide phases at low temperature), respectively. The respective concentrations of zinc(II) and iron(III) matched those of ZnO(cr) and Fe₂O₃(s) (≥150 °C) reported in the literature, whereas the corresponding Si(IV) and Zn(II) concentrations were at least an order of magnitude below the solubility limits for their pure oxide phases. Therefore, the solubility constants for zinc silicate and ferrite were determined with respect to the known solubility constants for ZnO(cr) and Fe₂O₃(s) (≥150 °C), respectively, and the corresponding concentrations of Si(IV) and Zn(II) measured in this study. The results of independent experiments, as well as those reported in the literature provide insights into the mechanism(s) of formation of zinc silicate and ferrite in the primary circuits of nuclear reactors. D.A. Palmer is retired.     

Zn2+ and Sr2+ adsorption at the TiO2 (110)-electrolyte interface: influence of ionic strength, coverage, and anions

The X-ray standing wave technique was used to probe the sensitivity of Zn2+ and Sr2+ ion adsorption to changes in both the adsorbed ion coverage and the background electrolyte species and concentrations at the rutile (alpha-TiO2) (110)-aqueous interface. Measurements were made with various background electrolytes (NaCl, NaTr, RbCl, NaBr) at concentrations as high as 1 m. The results demonstrate that Zn2+ and Sr2+ reside primarily in the condensed layer and that the ion heights above the Ti-O surface plane are insensitive to ionic strength and the choice of background electrolyte (with <0.1 A changes over the full compositional range). The lack of any specific anion coadsorption upon probing with Br-, coupled with the insensitivity of Zn2+ and Sr2+ cation heights to changes in the background electrolyte, implies that anions do not play a significant role in the adsorption of these divalent metal ions to the rutile (110) surface. Absolute ion coverage measurements for Zn2+ and Sr2+ show a maximum Stern-layer coverage of approximately 0.5 monolayer, with no significant variation in height as a function of Stern-layer coverage. These observations are discussed in the context of Gouy-Chapman-Stern models of the electrical double layer developed from macroscopic sorption and pH-titration studies of rutile powder suspensions. Direct comparison between these experimental observations and the MUltiSIte Complexation (MUSIC) model predictions of cation surface coverage as a function of ionic strength revealed good agreement between measured and predicted surface coverages with no adjustable parameters.     

Synthetic magnetic opals

We present studies of novel nanocomposites of BiNi impregnated into the structure of opals as well as inverse opals. Atomic force microscopy and high resolution elemental analyses show a highly ordered structure and uniform distribution of the BiNi filler in the matrix. These BiNi-based nanocomposites are found to exhibit distinct ferromagnetic-like ordering with transition temperature of about 675 K. As far as we know there exists no report in literature on any BiNi compound which is magnetic.     

Solubility Measurements of Crystalline NiO in Aqueous Solution as a Function of Temperature and pH

Results of solubility experiments involving crystalline nickel oxide (bunsenite) in aqueous solutions are reported as functions of temperature (0 to 350 °C) and pH at pressures slightly exceeding (with one exception) saturation vapor pressure. These experiments were carried out in either flow-through reactors or a hydrogen-electrode concentration cell for mildly acidic to near neutral pH solutions. The results were treated successfully with a thermodynamic model incorporating only the unhydrolyzed aqueous nickel species (viz., Ni²⁺) and the neutrally charged hydrolyzed species (viz., Ni(OH)₂⁰)\mathrm{Ni(OH)}_{2}^{0}). The thermodynamic quantities obtained at 25 °C and infinite dilution are, with 2σ uncertainties: log₁₀K_s0^o = (12.40 ±0.29),\varDelta_rG_m^o = -(70. 8 ±1.7)\log_{10}K_{\mathrm{s0}}^{\mathrm{o}} = (12.40 \pm 0.29),\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}G_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(70. 8 \pm 1.7) kJ⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rH_m^o = -(105.6 ±1.3)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}H_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(105.6 \pm 1.3) kJ⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rS_m^o = -(116.6 ±3.2)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}S_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} =-(116.6 \pm 3.2) J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rC_p,m^o = (0 ±13)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}C_{p,m}^{\mathrm{o}} = (0 \pm 13) J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹; and log₁₀K_s2^o = -(8.76 ±0.15)\log_{10}K_{\mathrm{s2}}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(8.76 \pm 0.15); \varDelta_rG_m^o = (50.0 ±1.7)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}G_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = (50.0 \pm 1.7) kJ⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rH_m^o = (17.7 ±1.7)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}H_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = (17.7 \pm 1.7) kJ⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rS_m^o = -(108±7)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}S_{m}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(108\pm 7) J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹; \varDelta_rC_p,m^o = -(108 ±3)\varDelta_{\mathrm{r}}C_{p,m}^{\mathrm{o}} = -(108 \pm 3) J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹. These results are internally consistent, but the latter set differs from those gleaned from previous studies recorded in the literature. The corresponding thermodynamic quantities for the formation of Ni²⁺ and Ni(OH)₂⁰\mathrm{Ni(OH)}_{2}^{0} are also estimated. Moreover, the Ni(OH)₃ ^-\mathrm{Ni(OH)}_{3}^{ -} anion was never observed, even in relatively strong basic solutions (m_{OH ^-} = 0.1m_{\mathrm{OH}^{ -}} = 0.1 mol⋅kg⁻¹), contrary to the conclusions drawn from all but one previous study.     

Self-assembled colloidal crystals from ZrO2 nanoparticles

Ordered three-dimensional (3-D) assemblies of nanocrystalline zirconia were synthesized from aqueous suspensions of ZrO(2) nanoparticles without the need for hydrocarbon surfactants or solvents to control colloidal crystal growth. Nanoparticles were suspended in mild acid and subsequently titrated from low to neutral pH. The solubility was reduced as the surfaces were neutralized, promoting assembly of the nanoparticles into ordered monoliths. TEM measurements indicated the formation of three-dimensional, hexagonal faceted, micrometer-sized colloidal crystals composed of 4 nm diameter ZrO(2) nanoparticles. Lacking organic surfactants, the colloidal crystals were exceptionally robust and were sintered at high temperatures (300-500 degrees C) for further stability. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements demonstrate that the samples become progressively more amorphous above 350 degrees C, although some ordered domains of nanoparticles persist. Additionally, the heat treatment dramatically increases the surface area of the colloidal crystals as water and residual organics are desorbed, revealing highly controlled interstitial spaces and pores.     

Adsorption of Ions on Zirconium Oxide Surfaces from Aqueous Solutions at High Temperatures

Surface titrations were carried out on suspensions of monoclinic ZrO₂ from 25 to 290 °C slightly above saturation vapor pressure at ionic strengths of 0.03, 0.1 and 1.0 mol⋅kg⁻¹(NaCl). A typical increase in surface charge was observed with increasing temperature. There was no correlation between the radius of the cations, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and (CH₃)₄N⁺, and the magnitude of their association with the surface. The combined results were treated with a 1-pK_a MUSIC model, which yielded association constants for the cations (and chloride ion at low pH) at each temperature. The pH of zero-point-charge, pH_zpc, decreased with increasing temperature as found for other metal oxides, reaching an apparent minimum value of 4.1 by 250 °C. Batch experiments were performed to monitor the concentration of LiOH in solutions containing suspended ZrO₂ particles from 200 to 360 °C. At 350 and 360 °C, Li⁺ and OH⁻ ions were almost totally adsorbed when the pressure was lowered to near saturation vapor pressure. This reversible trend has implications not only to pressure-water reactor, PWR, operations, but is also of general scientific and other applied interest. Additional experiments probed the feasibility that boric acid/borate ions adsorb reversibly onto ZrO₂ surfaces at near-neutral pH conditions as indicated in earlier publications. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Solubility of Litharge (α-PbO) in Alkaline Media at Elevated Temperatures

An inert, flowing autoclave facility was used to investigate the solubility behavior of α-PbO (litharge, tetragonal) in aqueous solutions of morpholine, ammonia and sodium hydroxide between 38 and 260 ^∘C. Lead solubilities increased from about 0.4 mmol-kg⁻¹ at 38 ^∘C to about 4.5 mmol-kg⁻¹ at 260 ^∘C and were relatively insensitive to the concentration and identity of the reagent used to control the pH. The measured lead solubilities were interpreted using a Pb(II) ion hydroxocomplexing model and thermodynamic functions for these equilibria were obtained from a least-squares analysis of the data. A consistent set of thermodynamic properties for the species Pb(OH)⁺, Pb(OH)₂(aq) and Pb(OH)₃⁻ was obtained that will permit accurate lead oxide solubility calculations to be made over broad ranges of temperature and alkalinity.     

Electric double layer at metal oxide surfaces: static properties of the cassiterite-water interface

The structure of water at the (110) surface of cassiterite (alpha-SnO2) at ambient conditions was studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations and X-ray crystal truncation rod experiments and interpreted with the help of the revised MUSIC model of surface protonation. The interactions of the metal oxide in the simulations were described by a recently developed classical force field based on the SPC/E model of water. Two extreme cases of completely hydroxylated and nonhydroxylated surfaces were considered along with a mixed surface with 50% dissociation. To study the dependence of the surface properties on pH, neutral and negatively charged variants of the surfaces were constructed. Axial and lateral density distributions of water for different types of surfaces were compared to each other and to experimental axial density distributions found by X-ray experiments. Although significant differences were found between the structures of the studied interfaces, the axial distances between Sn and O atoms are very similar and therefore could not be clearly distinguished by the diffraction technique. The explanation of structures observed in the density distributions was provided by a detailed analysis of hydrogen bonding in the interfacial region. It revealed qualitatively different hydrating patterns formed at neutral hydroxylated and nonhydroxylated surfaces and suggested a preference for the dissociative adsorption of water. At negatively charged surfaces, however, the situation can be reversed by the electric field stabilizing a hydrogen bond network similar to that found at the neutral nonhydroxylated surface. Comparison with previously studied rutile (alpha-TiO2) surfaces provided insight into the differences between the hydration of these two metal oxides, and an important role was ascribed to their different lattice parameters. A link to macroscopic properties was provided by the revised MUSIC surface protonation model. Explicit use of the Sn-O bond lengths based on ab initio calculations and H-bond configurations as inputs led to the prediction of a pH of zero net-proton induced surface charge (pHpzc) that agrees very well with those determined experimentally (about 4.4 at 298 K).