APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
·
2023
·
IF 6.7
Wei-qing An,Xiang-an Yue,Ji-rui Zou,Li-juan Zhang,Rong-jie Yan
In this study, we investigate the properties and behavior of interfacial water on solid silica surfaces and its implications for various applications. We utilize a combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy to explore the presence and characteristics of anomalous water on silica surfaces. Our findings reveal a stable, nanoscale layer of wall-bound water on the inner surface of silica tubes that persists under high vacuum and room temperature conditions. This layer is rich in hydrated hydrogen ions and exhibits a thickness that correlates with the density of hydroxyl groups in silica. Through additional experimentation, we demonstrate that reducing the density of silica hydroxyl groups causes the wall-bound water to return to a liquid state, highlighting the pivotal role of hydroxyl groups in the formation of this unique water layer. Our study offers valuable insights into the properties and behavior of interfacial water on solid surfaces and lays the foundation for potential applications in a wide range of fields, such as energy storage, drug delivery, environmental remediation, biological sample preparation, microfluidics, and nanofluidics. Future research will further explore the properties and behavior of interfacial water on different material surfaces and under various environmental conditions, laying the groundwork for technological innovation in related fields. By utilizing advanced approaches and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this research contributes significantly to our understanding of interfacial water and paves the way for the development of cutting-edge technologies that capitalize on its distinctive properties.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
表面化学
·
纳米技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Nature Communications
·
2023
·Vol. 14
·期 1
·1-10
·
IF 16.6
Zhang Qian,Gao Bo,Zhang Ling,Liu Xiaopeng,Cui Jixiang,Cao Yijun,Zeng Hongbo,Xu Qun,Cui Xinwei,Jiang Lei
The pressing crisis of clean water shortage requires membranes to possess effective ion sieving as well as fast water flux. However, effective ion sieving demands reduction of pore size, which inevitably hinders water flux in hydrophilic membranes, posing a major challenge for efficient water/ion separation. Herein, we introduce anomalous water molecular gating based on nanofiltration membranes full of graphene capillaries at 6 Å, which were fabricated from spontaneous π-π restacking of island-on-nanosheet graphitic microstructures. We found that the membrane can provide effective ion sieving by suppressing osmosis-driven ion diffusion to negligible levels (~10 –4 mol m –2 h –1 ); unexpectedly, ultrafast bulk flow of water (45.4 L m –2 h –1 ) was still functional with ease, as gated on/off by adjusting hydrostatic pressures within only 10 –2 bar. We attribute this seemingly incompatible observation to graphene nanoconfinement effect, where crystal-like water confined within the capillaries hinders diffusion under osmosis but facilitates high-speed, diffusion-free water transport in the way analogous to Newton’s cradle-like Grotthus conduction. This strategy establishes a type of liquid-solid-liquid, phase-changing molecular transport for precise and ultrafast molecular sieving.
研究领域:
材料科学
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纳米技术
·
水处理
·
膜技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Nature Communications
·
2024
·Vol. 15
·期 1
·1-12
·
IF 14.7
Chu Tianshu,Zhou Ze,Tian Pengfei,Yu Tingting,Lian Cheng,Zhang Bowei,Xuan Fu-Zhen
Manipulation of confined water dynamics by voltage keeps great importance for diverse applications. However, limitations on the membrane functions, voltage-control range, and unclear dynamics need to be addressed. Herein, we report an anomalous electrically controlled gating phenomenon on cation-intercalated multi-layer Ti 3 C 2 membranes and reveal the confined water dynamics. The water permeation rate was improved rapidly following the application and rise of voltage and finally reached a maximum rate at 0.9 V. The permeation rate starts to decrease from 0.9 V. Below 0.9 V, the electric field affects the charge and polarity of water molecules and then leads to ordered and denser rearrangement in the two-dimensional (2D) channel to accelerate the permeation rate. Above 0.9 V, with the assistance of metal cations, the surge in current induced aggregation of water molecules into clusters, thereby limiting the water mobility. Based on these findings, a high-performance humidity sensor was developed by simultaneously optimizing the response and recovery speeds through electric manipulation. This work provides flexible strategies in intelligent membrane design and nanofluidic sensing.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
纳米技术
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电化学
·
传感技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
AICHE JOURNAL
·
2021
·Vol. 68
·期 3
·e17560
·
IF 3.993
Junjun Li,Mi Huang,Ping Wei,Yaqin Zhang,Xuean Zhao,Chunbo Liu,Zhijun Zhou,Lin Zhang
Poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) is selected as a promising ethanol-permselective membrane based on the solubility parameter theory; however, it exhibits anomalous water perm-selectivity in practical pervaporation (PV) process. Comprehensive analysis based on experimental and theoretical methods were carried out to explore the inherent mechanism of the anomalous performance. Firstly, sum frequency generation vibrational spectra and contact angle were developed to quantify the surface reconstruction of membrane in air and ethanol, which indicated that hydrophilic hydroxyl tended to expose on membrane surface with ethanol thus improving the membrane affinity to water. Meanwhile, swelling behaviors proved more water would accumulate in the ethanol swollen membrane. Furthermore, theoretical analysis in terms of sorption and diffusion process, based on the UNIFAC-FV model and Fujita free-volume theory, confirmed the mechanism of anomalous phenomenon of PVB membrane. The comprehensive investigation was expected to provide insights into the basic separation mechanism of PV process.
研究领域:
化学工程
·
材料科学
·
膜技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
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