Towards an understanding of induced-charge electrokinetics at large applied voltages in concentrated solutions

Nanoscale perturbations of room temperature ionic liquid structure at charged and uncharged interfaces

The nanoscale interactions of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) at uncharged (graphene) and charged (muscovite mica) solid surfaces were evaluated with high resolution X-ray interface scattering and fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. At uncharged graphene surfaces, the imidazolium-based RTIL ([bmim(+)][Tf(2)N(-)]) exhibits a mixed cation/anion layering with a strong interfacial densification of the first RTIL layer. The first layer density observed via experiment is larger than that predicted by simulation and the apparent discrepancy can be understood with the inclusion of, dominantly, image charge and π-stacking interactions between the RTIL and the graphene sheet. In contrast, the RTIL structure adjacent to the charged mica surface exhibits an alternating cation-anion layering extending 3.5 nm into the bulk fluid. The associated charge density profile demonstrates a pronounced charge overscreening (i.e., excess first-layer counterions with respect to the adjacent surface charge), highlighting the critical role of charge-induced nanoscale correlations of the RTIL. These observations confirm key aspects of a predicted electric double layer structure from an analytical Landau-Ginzburg-type continuum theory incorporating ion correlation effects, and provide a new baseline for understanding the fundamental nanoscale response of RTILs at charged interfaces.

Unraveling the combined effects of dielectric and viscosity profiles on surface capacitance, electro-osmotic mobility, and electric surface conductivity

We calculate the electro-osmotic mobility and surface conductivity at a solid-liquid interface from a modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation, including spatial variations of the dielectric function and the viscosity that where extracted previously from molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous interfaces. The low-dielectric region directly at the interface leads to a substantially reduced surface capacitance. At the same time, ions accumulate into a highly condensed interfacial layer, leading to the well-known saturation of the electro-osmotic mobility at large surface charge density regardless of the hydrodynamic boundary conditions. The experimentally well-established apparent excess surface conductivity follows from our model for all hydrodynamic boundary conditions without additional assumptions. Our theory fits multiple published sets of experimental data on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces with striking accuracy, using the nonelectrostatic ion-surface interaction as the only fitting parameter.

Influence of nonelectrostatic ion-ion interactions on double-layer capacitance

Recently a Poisson-Helmholtz-Boltzmann (PHB) model [Bohinc et al., Phys. Rev. E 85, 031130 (2012)] was developed by accounting for solvent-mediated nonelectrostatic ion-ion interactions. Nonelectrostatic interactions are described by a Yukawa-like pair potential. In the present work, we modify the PHB model by adding steric effects (finite ion size) into the free energy to derive governing equations. The modified PHB model is capable of capturing both ion specificity and ion crowding. This modified model is then employed to study the capacitance of the double layer. More specifically, we focus on the influence of nonelectrostatic ion-ion interactions on charging a double layer near a flat surface in the presence of steric effects. We numerically compute the differential capacitance as a function of the voltage under various conditions. At small voltages and low salt concentrations (dilute solution), we find out that the predictions from the modified PHB model are the same as those from the classical Poisson-Boltzmann theory, indicating that nonelectrostatic ion-ion interactions and steric effects are negligible. At moderate voltages, nonelectrostatic ion-ion interactions play an important role in determining the differential capacitance. Generally speaking, nonelectrostatic interactions decrease the capacitance because of additional nonelectrostatic repulsion among excess counterions inside the double layer. However, increasing the voltage gradually favors steric effects, which induce a condensed layer with crowding of counterions near the electrode. Accordingly, the predictions from the modified PHB model collapse onto those computed by the modified Poisson-Boltzmann theory considering steric effects alone. Finally, theoretical predictions are compared and favorably agree with experimental data, in particular, in concentrated solutions, leading one to conclude that the modified PHB model adequately predicts the diffuse-charge dynamics of the double layer with ion specificity and steric effects.

Effects of electrostatic correlations on electrokinetic phenomena

The classical theory of electrokinetic phenomena is based on the mean-field approximation that the electric field acting on an individual ion is self-consistently determined by the local mean charge density. This paper considers situations, such as concentrated electrolytes, multivalent electrolytes, or solvent-free ionic liquids, where the mean-field approximation breaks down. A fourth-order modified Poisson equation is developed that captures the essential features in a simple continuum framework. The model is derived as a gradient approximation for nonlocal electrostatics of interacting effective charges, where the permittivity becomes a differential operator, scaled by a correlation length. The theory is able to capture subtle aspects of molecular simulations and allows for simple calculations of electrokinetic flows in correlated ionic fluids. Charge-density oscillations tend to reduce electro-osmotic flow and streaming current, and overscreening of surface charge can lead to flow reversal. These effects also help to explain the suppression of induced-charge electrokinetic phenomena at high salt concentrations.

Thermodynamic relation between voltage-concentration dependence and salt adsorption in electrochemical cells

Electrochemical cells containing two electrodes dipped in an ionic solution are widely used as charge accumulators, either with polarizable (supercapacitor) or nonpolarizable (battery) electrodes. Recent applications include desalination ("capacitive deionization") and energy extraction from salinity differences ("capacitive mixing"). In this Letter, we analyze a general relation between the variation of the electric potential as a function of the concentration and the salt adsorption. This relation comes from the evaluation of the electrical and mechanical energy exchange along a reversible cycle, which involves salt adsorption and release by the electrodes. The obtained relation thus describes a connection between capacitive deionization and capacitive mixing. We check this relation with experimental data already reported in the literature, and moreover by some classical physical models for electrodes, including polarizable and nonpolarizable electrodes. The generality of the relation makes it very useful in the study of the properties of the electric double layer.

Alternating current electrokinetic properties of gold-coated microspheres

We present dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrorotation (ROT) measurements of gold-coated polystyrene microspheres as a function of frequency and for several electrolyte conductivities. Particle rotation was counterfield with a maximum rotation rate observed at a single characteristic frequency. Negative DEP was observed for frequencies lower than this characteristic frequency and positive DEP for signal frequencies higher than this. These experimental observations are in agreement with predictions for the force and torque on the induced dipole of a perfectly polarizable metal sphere. We present a theoretical model for this case, and good agreement is found for both ROT and DEP measurements if we take into account the viscous friction for a spherical particle near a wall. From the characteristic frequency for rotation, we obtain the capacitance of the electrical double layer at the electrolyte-particle interface. Remarkably, no effect of induced charge electroosmosis around the particles can be inferred from DEP measurements.

Ions Transport and Adsorption Mechanisms in Porous Electrodes During Capacitive-Mixing Double Layer Expansion (CDLE)

A model of the electro-diffusion of ions in porous electrodes is applied to analyze the dynamics of capacitive-mixing extraction of energy from salinity gradients with carbon porous electrodes. The complex time-evolution of the cell voltage observed in experiments is satisfactorily described. The asymmetry on the duration of the solution-change steps performed in open circuit is found to be due to the nonlinear voltage-concentration relationship of the electric double layers and to a current that redistributes the counterions along the depth of the electrode leading to nonuniform charge and salt adsorption. The validated model is an essential tool for the design and optimization of renewable energy extraction by this technique.

Macroscale description of electrokinetic flows at large zeta potentials: nonlinear surface conduction

For highly charged dielectric surfaces, the asymptotic structure underlying electrokinetic phenomena in the thin-double-layer limit reshuffles. The large counterion concentration near the surface, associated with the Boltzmann distribution in the diffuse layer, supports appreciable tangential fluxes appearing as effective surface currents in a macroscale description. Their inevitable nonuniformity gives rise in turn to comparable transverse currents, which, for logarithmically large zeta potentials, modify the electrokinetic transport in the electroneutral bulk. To date, this mechanism has been studied only using a weak-field linearization. We present here a generic thin-double-layer analysis of the electrokinetic transport about highly charged dielectric solids, which is not restricted to weak fields. We identify the counterion concentration amplification with the emergence of an internal boundary layer--within the diffuse part of the double layer--characterized by distinct scaling of ionic concentrations and electric field. In this multiscale description, surface conduction is conveniently localized within the internal layer. Our systematic scheme thus avoids the cumbersome procedure of retaining small asymptotic terms which change their magnitude at large zeta potentials. The electrokinetic transport predicted by the resulting macroscale model is inherently accompanied by bulk concentration polarization, which in turn results in nonlinear bulk transport. A novel fundamental subtlety associated with this intrinsic feature, overlooked in the weak-field approximation, has to do with the ambiguity of the "particle zeta potential" concept: In general, even uniformly charged surfaces are characterized by a nonuniform zeta-potential distribution. This impairs the need for a careful identification of the dimensionless number representing the transition to large zeta potentials.

Ion-conserving Poisson-Boltzmann theory

It is well known that the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) theory and the classical Gouy-Chapman theory are inconsistent at a high applied voltage. For solving this problem, we propose an ion-conserving Poisson-Boltzmann theory, which shows remarkable agreement with the numerical PNP solutions, even at a high applied voltage. In other words, we have found the exact analytical solutions for steady PNP equations; we believe that this finding greatly contributes to understanding surface science between solids and liquids.

Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter states of an electrolytic drop on charged surfaces

In this paper, we provide a theory for the Wenzel and the Cassie-Baxter states of an electrolyte drop on charged surfaces. An electric double layer (EDL) develops when the electrolyte drop comes in contact with the charged surface. Therefore, the EDL free energy affects these states by triggering a hydrophilicity-inducing tendency. Consequently, an originally hydrophilic condition leads to a superhydrophilic Wenzel state, and an originally hydrophobic condition leads to a less hydrophobic Wenzel state. For the Cassie-Baxter state, this gives rise to the most remarkable situation of a hydrophilic (as compared to the original) Cassie-Baxter state.

Redefining electrical double layer thickness in narrow confinements: effect of solvent polarization

In this paper we delineate the consequences of field-dependent solvent polarization in the electric double layer (EDL) electrostatic potential distribution, and the effective EDL thickness in narrow nanofluidic confinements with thick (or overlapping) EDLs. The EDL, formed at the interface between a charged substrate and an electrolyte solution, induces a large electric field spanning across few nanometer distances from the interface. As a result, a polar solvent like water gets polarized, making its relative permittivity a function of the EDL electric field. This affects the overall EDL electrostatic potential distribution and most importantly, leads to a significant reduction of the effective EDL thickness, with the extent of the reduction being dictated by the value of field independent EDL thickness, strength of the solvent polarization, and the substrate-liquid interfacial electrostatic potential. Such a finding will necessitate redefining the classical EDL thickness, which will be of overwhelming significance in nanofluidic transport.

Competitive adsorption and ordered packing of counterions near highly charged surfaces: From mean-field theory to Monte Carlo simulations

Competitive adsorption of counterions of multiple species to charged surfaces is studied by a size-effect-included mean-field theory and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The mean-field electrostatic free-energy functional of ionic concentrations, constrained by Poisson's equation, is numerically minimized by an augmented Lagrangian multiplier method. Unrestricted primitive models and canonical ensemble MC simulations with the Metropolis criterion are used to predict the ionic distributions around a charged surface. It is found that, for a low surface charge density, the adsorption of ions with a higher valence is preferable, agreeing with existing studies. For a highly charged surface, both the mean-field theory and the MC simulations demonstrate that the counterions bind tightly around the charged surface, resulting in a stratification of counterions of different species. The competition between mixed entropy and electrostatic energetics leads to a compromise that the ionic species with a higher valence-to-volume ratio has a larger probability to form the first layer of stratification. In particular, the MC simulations confirm the crucial role of ionic valence-to-volume ratios in the competitive adsorption to charged surfaces that had been previously predicted by the mean-field theory. The charge inversion for ionic systems with salt is predicted by the MC simulations but not by the mean-field theory. This work provides a better understanding of competitive adsorption of counterions to charged surfaces and calls for further studies on the ionic size effect with application to large-scale biomolecular modeling.

Evolution with time of hydrophobicity and microrelief of a cation-exchange membrane surface and its impact on overlimiting mass transfer

Surface properties were measured together with electrochemical characteristics of a CMX (Neosepta, Tokuyama Corp.) cation-exchange membrane. Relative hydrophobicity was controlled by the contact angle; XPS and SEM were used for characterizing chemical composition and microrelief of the surface, respectively. Voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, and mass transfer rate measurements were made as well. A "fresh" membrane and samples after 10, 25, 100, and 150 h of operation in an electrodialysis cell at an overlimiting current equal to 3 theoretical limiting currents, in a 0.02 M NaCl solution, were characterized. Some electrochemical properties were also measured for a Neosepta cation-exchange membrane, aged 2 years, in an industrial food process. It was found that the hydrophobicity of the CMX membrane has increased after the first 10 h of operation; more and more cavities of the dimension of the order of 1 μm have appeared with time testifying electrochemical erosion of the surface. The limiting current density (i(lim)) and the overlimiting transfer rate through the CMX membrane increased with time of its operation under overlimiting current. In the case of new CMX, i(lim) was very close to the theoretical value i(lim)(theor) calculated by the Lévêque equation. After 10 h of operation, i(lim) increased by 5%, and after 25, 100, and 150 h, the increase was by 30%, 70%, and 100%, respectively. Similarly, the mass transfer rate was found to increase up to 5 times (when desalting 0.005 M NaCl under 3 V) in comparison with the theoretical value. The ensemble of data was explained by the hypothesis that the passage of intensive current produces erosion of the ion-exchange polymer forming a continuous phase in CMX. This erosion results in exposure at the surface of the other constituent of CMX: small (about 100 nm) particles of relatively hydrophobic polyvinylchloride. Increasing surface hydrophobicity facilitates the slip of electroconvective vortexes along the surface. Besides, the geometry of the cavities gives rise to appearing tangential electric force applied to the extended space charge density at cavity's walls. As the local limiting current density within a cavity is lower than at the flat surface, electroconvective vortices arise at current densities lower than i(lim)(theor). With time, the number and the size of cavities increase (apparently, due to paired electroconvective vortices occurring inside them) that seems the main reason for overlimiting transfer increase.

Spatial variation of permittivity of an electrolyte solution in contact with a charged metal surface: a mini review

Contact between a charged metal surface and an electrolyte implies a particular ion distribution near the charged surface, i.e. the electrical double layer. In this mini review, different mean-field models of relative (effective) permittivity are described within a simple lattice model, where the orientational ordering of water dipoles in the saturation regime is taken into account. The Langevin-Poisson-Boltzmann (LPB) model of spatial variation of the relative permittivity for point-like ions is described and compared to a more general Langevin-Bikerman (LB) model of spatial variation of permittivity for finite-sized ions. The Bikerman model and the Poisson-Boltzmann model are derived as limiting cases. It is shown that near the charged surface, the relative permittivity decreases due to depletion of water molecules (volume-excluded effect) and orientational ordering of water dipoles (saturation effect). At the end, the LPB and LB models are generalised by also taking into account the cavity field.

Variational multiscale models for charge transport

This work presents a few variational multiscale models for charge transport in complex physical, chemical and biological systems and engineering devices, such as fuel cells, solar cells, battery cells, nanofluidics, transistors and ion channels. An essential ingredient of the present models, introduced in an earlier paper (Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, 72, 1562-1622, 2010), is the use of differential geometry theory of surfaces as a natural means to geometrically separate the macroscopic domain from the microscopic domain, meanwhile, dynamically couple discrete and continuum descriptions. Our main strategy is to construct the total energy functional of a charge transport system to encompass the polar and nonpolar free energies of solvation, and chemical potential related energy. By using the Euler-Lagrange variation, coupled Laplace-Beltrami and Poisson-Nernst-Planck (LB-PNP) equations are derived. The solution of the LB-PNP equations leads to the minimization of the total free energy, and explicit profiles of electrostatic potential and densities of charge species. To further reduce the computational complexity, the Boltzmann distribution obtained from the Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation is utilized to represent the densities of certain charge species so as to avoid the computationally expensive solution of some Nernst-Planck (NP) equations. Consequently, the coupled Laplace-Beltrami and Poisson-Boltzmann-Nernst-Planck (LB-PBNP) equations are proposed for charge transport in heterogeneous systems. A major emphasis of the present formulation is the consistency between equilibrium LB-PB theory and non-equilibrium LB-PNP theory at equilibrium. Another major emphasis is the capability of the reduced LB-PBNP model to fully recover the prediction of the LB-PNP model at non-equilibrium settings. To account for the fluid impact on the charge transport, we derive coupled Laplace-Beltrami, Poisson-Nernst-Planck and Navier-Stokes equations from the variational principle for chemo-electro-fluid systems. A number of computational algorithms is developed to implement the proposed new variational multiscale models in an efficient manner. A set of ten protein molecules and a realistic ion channel, Gramicidin A, are employed to confirm the consistency and verify the capability. Extensive numerical experiment is designed to validate the proposed variational multiscale models. A good quantitative agreement between our model prediction and the experimental measurement of current-voltage curves is observed for the Gramicidin A channel transport. This paper also provides a brief review of the field.

Electric-double-layer potential distribution in multiple-layer immiscible electrolytes: effect of finite ion sizes

In a recent study [S. Das and S. Hardt, Phys. Rev. E 84, 022502 (2011).], we provided analytical results for the electric-double-layer (EDL) electrostatic potential distribution in a system of immiscible electrolyte layers confined between plates with gap dimensions comparable to the EDL thickness. We demonstrated that the intrinsic jumps in the ion-solvent interactions across the interface of the immiscible electrolytes lead to nontrivial electrostatic potential distributions that may completely defy or substantially augment the effect of the boundary wall potential. In this Brief Report, I extend this calculation to obtain analytical and numerical results for the case with finite ion sizes (or a finite ionic steric effect). It is found that the finite steric effect substantially enhances the contributions of jump in the ion-solvent interactions in the overall electrostatic potential distribution. More importantly, I demonstrate that such jumps in the ion-solvent interactions, owing to the immiscibility of the electrolytes, ensure that even for very weak wall zeta potentials, the steric effect can significantly affect the electrostatic potential distribution.

DC-biased AC-electrokinetics: a conductivity gradient driven fluid flow

This paper studies the principles of fluid flow manipulation based on DC-biased AC-electrokinetics. This method makes use of planar parallel electrodes in a microfluidic channel in contact with an electrolyte solution, with a DC biased AC electrical signal applied to the electrode pair. Due to the application of DC bias, incipient Faradaic electrolytic reactions take place resulting in an increase of the ionic content of the bulk solution. The ionic content was found to be dissimilar at the cathodic and anodic sides of the channel and a conductivity difference of approximately 10% was measured for 2 V(DC). Fluid flow is generated by the action of the DC biased AC electric signal acting on the transverse conductivity gradient generated across the microchannel. The induced flow in the form of vortex was characterized experimentally and the results substantiated theoretically. The velocity of the induced flow vortex under the employed experimental conditions was ~600 to 700 μm s(-1) which is faster than those obtained in conventional AC-electroosmosis and AC-electrothermal types of flows.

Decrease of permittivity of an electrolyte solution near a charged surface due to saturation and excluded volume effects

The dipole moment of a water molecule in liquid water differs from that of an isolated one because each molecule is further polarized by the electric field of its neighbours. In this work a formula for the spatial dependence of the relative permittivity of an electrolyte near a highly charged surface is obtained in which the mutual influence of the water molecules is taken into account by means of the cavity field. The orientational ordering of water dipoles is considered in the saturation regime. It is predicted that the relative permittivity of an electrolyte solution near the highly charged surface (i.e. in saturation regime) may be substantially decreased due to orientational ordering of water (saturation effect) and depletion of water molecules (excluded volume effect) due to accumulation of counterions.

Poisson-Boltzmann description of the electrical double layer including ion size effects

The electrical double layer is examined using a generalized Poisson-Boltzmann equation that takes into account the finite ion size by modeling the aqueous electrolyte solution as a suspension of polarizable insulating spheres in water. We find that this model greatly amplifies the steric effects predicted by the usual modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation, which imposes only a restriction on the ability of ions to approach one another. This amplification should allow for an interpretation of the experimental results using reasonable effective ionic radii (close to their well-known hydrated values).

Generalized stern models of the electric double layer considering the spatial variation of permittvity and finite size of ions in saturation regime

The interaction between a charged metal implant surface and a surrounding body fluid (electrolyte solution) leads to ion redistribution and thus to formation of an electrical double layer (EDL). The physical properties of the EDL contribute essentially to the formation of the complex implant-biosystem interface. Study of the EDL began in 1879 by Hermann von Helmholtz and still today remains a scientific challenge. The present mini review is focused on introducing the generalized Stern theory of an EDL, which takes into account the orientational ordering of water molecules. To ascertain the plausibility of the generalized Stern models described, we follow the classical model of Stern and introduce two Langevin models for spatial variation of the relative permittivity for point-like and finite sized ions. We attempt to uncover the subtle interplay between water ordering and finite sized ions and their impact on the electric potential near the charged implant surface. Two complementary effects appear to account for the spatial dependency of the relative permittivity near the charged implant surface - the dipole moment vectors of water molecules are predominantly oriented towards the surface and water molecules are depleted due to the accumulation of counterions. At the end the expressions for relative permittivity in both Langevin models were generalized by also taking into account the cavity and reaction field.

Suppression of phase separation in LiFePO₄ nanoparticles during battery discharge

Using a novel electrochemical phase-field model, we question the common belief that Li(X)FePO(4) nanoparticles always separate into Li-rich and Li-poor phases during battery discharge. For small currents, spinodal decomposition or nucleation leads to moving phase boundaries. Above a critical current density (in the Tafel regime), the spinodal disappears, and particles fill homogeneously, which may explain the superior rate capability and long cycle life of nano-LiFePO(4) cathodes.

Diffuse-charge dynamics of ionic liquids in electrochemical systems

We employ a continuum theory of solvent-free ionic liquids accounting for both short-range electrostatic correlations and steric effects (finite ion size) [Bazant et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 046102 (2011)] to study the response of a model microelectrochemical cell to a step voltage. The model problem consists of a 1-1 symmetric ionic liquid between two parallel blocking electrodes, neglecting any transverse transport phenomena. Matched asymptotic expansions in the limit of thin double layers are applied to analyze the resulting one-dimensional equations and study the overall charge-time relation in the weakly nonlinear regime. One important conclusion is that our simple scaling analysis suggests that the length scale √(λ*(D)l*(c)) accurately characterizes the double-layer structure of ionic liquids with strong electrostatic correlations where l*(c) is the electrostatic correlation length (in contrast, the Debye screening length λ*(D) is the primary double-layer length for electrolytes) and the response time of λ(D)(*3/2)L*/(D*l(c)(1/2)) (not λ*(D)L*/D* that is the primary charging time of electrolytes) is the correct charging time scale of ionic liquids with strong electrostatic correlations where D* is the diffusivity and L* is the separation length of the cell. With these two new scales, data of both electric potential versus distance from the electrode and the total diffuse charge versus time collapse onto each individual master curve in the presence of strong electrostatic correlations. In addition, the dependance of the total diffuse charge on steric effects, short-range correlations, and driving voltages is thoroughly examined. The results from the asymptotic analysis are compared favorably with those from full numerical simulations. Finally, the absorption of excess salt by the double layer creates a depletion region outside the double layer. Such salt depletion may bring a correction to the leading order terms and break down the weakly nonlinear analysis. A criterion which justifies the weakly nonlinear analysis is verified with numerical simulations.

Method to determine the effective ζ potential in a microchannel with an embedded gate electrode

We present a theoretical model to determine the effective zeta potential ζ(eff) in microfluidic channels where an embedded, insulated gate electrode allows for external tuning of a portion of the channel surface charge. In addition, we derive a method to determine ζ(eff) in such channels, for any value of salt concentration, using the solution displacement technique. To do so, we simulate typical current-monitoring measurements using our model, and highlight the experimental parameters that lead to inaccurate results using this procedure with an heterogenous channel. Our method corrects for such inaccuracies by using our model with experimental data to find the correct value of ζ(eff) . Finally, we perform experiments to demonstrate our method and the use of our model with a silica-PMDS microchannel system with an embedded Ti-Au-Ti gate electrode that covers 50% of the bottom surface of the channel. We show that our theory captures the salient features of our experiments, thereby offering a useful tool to predict effective zeta potential in channels with a nonuniform zeta potential.

Electrodeposition of zinc-silica composite coatings: challenges in incorporating functionalized silica particles into a zinc matrix

Zinc is a well-known sacrificial coating material for iron and co-deposition of suitable particles is of interest for further improving its corrosion protection performance. However, incorporation of particles that are well dispersible in aqueous electrolytes, such as silica particles, is extremely difficult. Here, we report a detailed study of Zn-SiO₂ nanocomposite coatings deposited from a zinc sulfate solution at pH 3. The effect of functionalization of the silica particles on the electro-codeposition was investigated. The best incorporation was achieved for particles modified with SiO₂-SH, dithiooxamide or cysteamine; these particles have functional groups that can strongly interact with zinc and therefore incorporate well into the metal matrix. Other modifications (SiO₂-NH₃⁺, SiO₂-Cl and N,N-dimethyldodecylamine) of the silica particles lead to adsorption and entrapment only.

Coupled concentration polarization and electroosmotic circulation near micro/nanointerfaces: Taylor-Aris model of hydrodynamic dispersion and limits of its applicability

Mismatches in electrokinetic properties between micro- and nanochannels give rise to superposition of electroosmotic and pressure-driven flows in the microchannels. Parabolic or similar flow profiles are known to cause the so-called hydrodynamic dispersion, which under certain conditions can be formally assimilated to an increase in the solute diffusivity (Taylor-Aris model). It is demonstrated theoretically that taking into account these phenomena modifies considerably the pattern of current-induced concentration polarization of micro/nanointerfaces as compared to the classical model of unstirred boundary layer. In particular, the hydrodynamic dispersion leads to disappearance of limiting current. At essentially "over-limiting" current densities, the time-dependent profiles of salt concentration in microchannels behave like sharp concentration "fronts" moving away from the interface until they reach the reservoir end of the microchannel. Under galvanostatic conditions postulated in this study, these "fronts" move with practically constant speed directly proportional to the current density. The sharp transition from a low-concentration to a high-concentration zone can be useful for the analyte preconcentration via stacking. The pattern of moving sharp concentration "fronts" has been predicted for the first time for relatively broad microchannels with negligible surface conductance. The Taylor-Aris approach to the description of hydrodynamic dispersion is quantitatively applicable only to the analysis of sufficiently "slow" processes (as compared to the characteristic time of diffusion relaxation in the transversal direction). A posteriori estimates reveal that the condition of "slow" processes is typically not satisfied close to current-polarized micro/nanointerfaces. Accordingly, to make the description quantitative, one needs to go beyond the Taylor-Aris approximation, which will be attempted in future studies. It is argued that doing so would make even stronger the dampening impact of hydrodynamic dispersion on the current-induced concentration polarization of micro/nanointerfaces.

Adhesion of osteoblasts to a nanorough titanium implant surface

This work considers the adhesion of cells to a nanorough titanium implant surface with sharp edges. The basic assumption was that the attraction between the negatively charged titanium surface and a negatively charged osteoblast is mediated by charged proteins with a distinctive quadrupolar internal charge distribution. Similarly, cation-mediated attraction between fibronectin molecules and the titanium surface is expected to be more efficient for a high surface charge density, resulting in facilitated integrin mediated osteoblast adhesion. We suggest that osteoblasts are most strongly bound along the sharp convex edges or spikes of nanorough titanium surfaces where the magnitude of the negative surface charge density is the highest. It is therefore plausible that nanorough regions of titanium surfaces with sharp edges and spikes promote the adhesion of osteoblasts.

Distinct conformations of DNA-stabilized fluorescent silver nanoclusters revealed by electrophoretic mobility and diffusivity measurements

Silver-DNA nanoclusters (Ag:DNAs) are novel fluorophores under active research and development as alternative biomolecular markers. Comprised of a few-atom Ag cluster that is stabilized in water by binding to a strand of DNA, they are also interesting for fundamental explorations into the properties of metal molecules. Here, we use in situ calibrated electrokinetic microfluidics and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to determine the size, charge, and conformation of a select set of Ag:DNAs. Among them is a pair of spectrally distinct Ag:DNAs stabilized by the same DNA sequence, for which it is known that the silver cluster differs by two atoms. We find these two Ag:DNAs differ in size by ∼30%, even though their molecular weights differ by less than 3%. Thus a single DNA sequence can adopt very different conformations when binding slightly different Ag clusters. By comparing spectrally identical Ag:DNAs that differ in sequence, we show that the more compact conformation is insensitive to the native DNA secondary structure. These results demonstrate electrokinetic microfluidics as a practical tool for characterizing Ag:DNA.

Steric-effect-induced enhancement of electrical-double-layer overlapping phenomena

In this paper, we demonstrate that nontrivial interactions between steric effect and electrical-double-layer (EDL) overlap phenomena may augment the effective extent of EDL overlap in narrow fluidic confinements to a significant extent by virtue of rendering the channel centerline potential tending to the ζ potential in a limiting sense as the steric effect progressively intensifies. Such a behavior may result in a virtually uniform (undiminished) magnitude of the EDL potential across the entire channel height and may cause lowering of the total charge within the EDL.

Diffuse charge and Faradaic reactions in porous electrodes

Porous electrodes instead of flat electrodes are widely used in electrochemical systems to boost storage capacities for ions and electrons, to improve the transport of mass and charge, and to enhance reaction rates. Existing porous electrode theories make a number of simplifying assumptions: (i) The charge-transfer rate is assumed to depend only on the local electrostatic potential difference between the electrode matrix and the pore solution, without considering the structure of the double layer (DL) formed in between; (ii) the charge-transfer rate is generally equated with the salt-transfer rate not only at the nanoscale of the matrix-pore interface, but also at the macroscopic scale of transport through the electrode pores. In this paper, we extend porous electrode theory by including the generalized Frumkin-Butler-Volmer model of Faradaic reaction kinetics, which postulates charge transfer across the molecular Stern layer located in between the electron-conducting matrix phase and the plane of closest approach for the ions in the diffuse part of the DL. This is an elegant and purely local description of the charge-transfer rate, which self-consistently determines the surface charge and does not require consideration of reference electrodes or comparison with a global equilibrium. For the description of the DLs, we consider the two natural limits: (i) the classical Gouy-Chapman-Stern model for thin DLs compared to the macroscopic pore dimensions, e.g., for high-porosity metallic foams (macropores >50 nm) and (ii) a modified Donnan model for strongly overlapping DLs, e.g., for porous activated carbon particles (micropores <2 nm). Our theory is valid for electrolytes where both ions are mobile, and it accounts for voltage and concentration differences not only on the macroscopic scale of the full electrode, but also on the local scale of the DL. The model is simple enough to allow us to derive analytical approximations for the steady-state and early transients. We also present numerical solutions to validate the analysis and to illustrate the evolution of ion densities, pore potential, surface charge, and reaction rates in response to an applied voltage.

ac Electrokinetic phenomena over semiconductive surfaces: effective electric boundary conditions and their applications

Electrokinetic boundary conditions are derived for ac electrokinetic phenomena over leaky dielectric (i.e., semiconducting) surfaces. Such boundary conditions correlate the electric potentials across a semiconductor-electrolyte interface (consisting of an electric double layer inside the electrolyte solution and a space charge layer inside the semiconductor) in an ac electric field with arbitrary wave forms. The presented electrokinetic boundary conditions allow for evaluation of the induced ζ potential contributed by both bond charges (due to electric polarization) and free charges (due to electric conduction) from the leaky dielectric materials. Two well-known limiting cases, (i) the conventional insulating boundary condition and (ii) the perfectly polarizable boundary condition, can be recovered from the generalized electrokinetic boundary conditions derived in the present paper. Subsequently, we demonstrate the implementation of the derived boundary conditions for analyzing the ac induced-charge electrokinetic flow around a semiconducting cylinder. The results show that the flow circulations exist around the semiconducting cylinder and become stronger in the ac field with a lower frequency and around the semiconducting cylinder with a higher conductivity.

Effects of electric field on confined electrolyte in a hexagonal mesoporous silica

In an electrowetting experiment on a surface treated hexagonal mesoporous silica, it is noticed that the effective solid-liquid interfacial tension is quite insensitive to the applied voltage, while the accessible nanopore volume decreases significantly as the voltage is increased. When the voltage is higher than 900 V, the liquid infiltration cannot be detected. The liquid defiltration is quite insensitive to the electric field. These unique phenomena may be attributed to the field responsive ion behaviors in the confining nanoenvironment.