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Martins-Costa MTC, Ruiz-López MF. The Structure of Carbon Dioxide at the Air-Water Interface and its Chemical Implications. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400825. [PMID: 38838064 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The efficient reduction of CO2 into valuable products is a challenging task in an international context marked by the climate change crisis and the need to move away from fossil fuels. Recently, the use of water microdroplets has emerged as an interesting reaction media where many redox processes which do not occur in conventional solutions take place spontaneously. Indeed, several experimental studies in microdroplets have already been devoted to study the reduction of CO2 with promising results. The increased reactivity in microdroplets is thought to be linked to unique electrostatic solvation effects at the air-water interface. In the present work, we report a theoretical investigation on this issue for CO2 using first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. We show that CO2 is stabilized at the interface, where it can accumulate, and that compared to bulk water solution, its electron capture ability is larger. Our results suggest that reduction of CO2 might be easier in interface-rich systems such as water microdroplets, which is in line with early experimental data and indicate directions for future laboratory studies. The effect of other relevant factors which could play a role in CO2 reduction potential is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilia T C Martins-Costa
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoriques, UMR CNRS 7019, University of Lorraine, CNRS, BP 70239, 54506, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Manuel F Ruiz-López
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoriques, UMR CNRS 7019, University of Lorraine, CNRS, BP 70239, 54506, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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Zarzycki P. Distance-dependent dielectric constant at the calcite/electrolyte interface: Implication for surface complexation modeling. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 645:752-764. [PMID: 37172485 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS The electrical double layer formed at the mineral/electrolyte interface is often modeled using mean-field approaches based on a continuum description of the solvent whose dielectric constant is assumed to decrease monotonically with decreasing distance to the surface. In contrast, molecular simulations show that the solvent polarizability oscillates near the surface similar to the water density profile - as shown previously, for example, by Bonthuis et al. (D.J. Bonthuis, S. Gekle, R.R. Netz, Dielectric Profile of Interfacial Water and its Effect on Double-Layer Capacitance, Phys Rev Lett 107(16) (2011) 166102). We showed that molecular and mesoscale pictures agree by spatially averaging the dielectric constant obtained from molecular dynamics simulations over the distances relevant to the mean-field representation. In addition, the values of capacitances used to describe the electrical double layer in Surface Complexation Models (SCMs) of the mineral/electrolyte interface can be estimated using molecularly informed spatially averaged dielectric constants and positions of hydration layers. EXPERIMENTS First, we used molecular dynamics simulations to model the calcite 101¯4/electrolyte interface. Next, by using atomistic trajectories, we calculated the distance-dependent static dielectric constant and water density in the direction normal to the. Finally, we applied spatial compartmentalization consistent with the model of parallel-plate capacitors connected in series to estimate SCM capacitances. FINDINGS Computationally expensive simulations are required to determine the dielectric constant profile of interfacial water near the mineral surface. On the other hand, water density profiles are readily assessable from much shorter simulation trajectories. Our simulations confirmed that dielectric and water density oscillations at the interface are correlated. Here, we parametrized linear regression models to estimate the dielectric constant directly from the local water density. This is a significant computational shortcut compared to slowly converging calculations relying on total dipole moment fluctuations. The amplitude of the interfacial dielectric constant oscillation can exceed the dielectric constant of the bulk water, suggesting an ice-like frozen state, but only if there are no electrolyte ions. The interfacial accumulation of electrolyte ions causes a decrease in the dielectric constant due to the reduction of water density and re-orientation of water dipoles in ion hydration shells. Finally, we show how to use the computed dielectric properties to estimate SCM's capacitances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Zarzycki
- Energy Geosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, United States.
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Molecular-scale mechanisms of CO2 mineralization in nanoscale interfacial water films. Nat Rev Chem 2022; 6:598-613. [PMID: 37117714 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-022-00418-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The calamitous impacts of unabated carbon emission from fossil-fuel-burning energy infrastructure call for accelerated development of large-scale CO2 capture, utilization and storage technologies that are underpinned by a fundamental understanding of the chemical processes at a molecular level. In the subsurface, rocks rich in divalent metals can react with CO2, permanently sequestering it in the form of stable metal carbonate minerals, with the CO2-H2O composition of the post-injection pore fluid acting as a primary control variable. In this Review, we discuss mechanistic reaction pathways for aqueous-mediated carbonation with carbon mineralization occurring in nanoscale adsorbed water films. In the extreme of pores filled with a CO2-dominant fluid, carbonation reactions are confined to angstrom to nanometre-thick water films coating mineral surfaces, which enable metal cation release, transport, nucleation and crystallization of metal carbonate minerals. Although seemingly counterintuitive, laboratory studies have demonstrated facile carbonation rates in these low-water environments, for which a better mechanistic understanding has come to light in recent years. The overarching objective of this Review is to delineate the unique underlying molecular-scale reaction mechanisms that govern CO2 mineralization in these reactive and dynamic quasi-2D interfaces. We highlight the importance of understanding unique properties in thin water films, such as how water dielectric properties, and consequently ion solvation and hydration behaviour, can change under nanoconfinement. We conclude by identifying important frontiers for future work and opportunities to exploit these fundamental chemical insights for decarbonization technologies in the twenty-first century.
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Zare S, Qomi MJA. Reactive force fields for aqueous and interfacial magnesium carbonate formation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:23106-23123. [PMID: 34617078 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp02627e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
We develop Mg/C/O/H ReaxFF parameter sets for two environments: an aqueous force field for magnesium ions in solution and an interfacial force field for minerals and mineral-water interfaces. Since magnesium is highly ionic, we choose to fix the magnesium charge and model its interaction with C/O/H through Coulomb, Lennard-Jones, and Buckingham potentials. We parameterize the forcefields against several crystal structures, including brucite, magnesite, magnesia, magnesium hydride, and magnesium carbide, as well as Mg2+ water binding energies for the aqueous forcefield. Then, we test the forcefield for other magnesium-containing crystals, solvent separated and contact ion-pairs and single-molecule/multilayer water adsorption energies on mineral surfaces. We also apply the forcefield to the forsterite-water and brucite-water interface that contains a bicarbonate ion. We observe that a long-range proton transfer mechanism deprotonates the bicarbonate ion to carbonate at the interface. Free energy calculations show that carbonate can attach to the magnesium surface with an energy barrier of about 0.22 eV, consistent with the free energy required for aqueous Mg-CO3 ion pairing. Also, the diffusion constant of the hydroxide ions in the water layers formed on the forsterite surface are shown to be anisotropic and heterogeneous. These findings can help explain the experimentally observed fast nucleation and growth of magnesite at low temperature at the mineral-water-CO2 interface in water-poor conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siavash Zare
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Kerisit SN, Mergelsberg ST, Thompson CJ, White SK, Loring JS. Thin Water Films Enable Low-Temperature Magnesite Growth Under Conditions Relevant to Geologic Carbon Sequestration. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12539-12548. [PMID: 34491048 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Injecting supercritical CO2 (scCO2) into basalt formations for long-term storage is a promising strategy for mitigating CO2 emissions. Mineral carbonation can result in permanent entrapment of CO2; however, carbonation kinetics in thin H2O films in humidified scCO2 is not well understood. We investigated forsterite (Mg2SiO4) carbonation to magnesite (MgCO3) via amorphous magnesium carbonate (AMC; MgCO3·xH2O, 0.5 < x < 1), with the goal to establish the fundamental controls on magnesite growth rates at low H2O activity and temperature. Experiments were conducted at 25, 40, and 50 °C in 90 bar CO2 with a H2O film thickness on forsterite that averaged 1.78 ± 0.05 monolayers. In situ infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor forsterite dissolution and the growth of AMC, magnesite, and amorphous SiO2 as a function of time. Geochemical kinetic modeling showed that magnesite was supersaturated by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude and grew according to a zero-order rate law. The results indicate that the main drivers for magnesite growth are sustained high supersaturation coupled with low H2O activity, a combination of thermodynamic conditions not attainable in bulk aqueous solution. This improved understanding of reaction kinetics can inform subsurface reactive transport models for better predictions of CO2 fate and transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien N Kerisit
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Sebastian T Mergelsberg
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Christopher J Thompson
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Signe K White
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - John S Loring
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
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Carbonation Reaction Mechanisms of Portlandite Predicted from Enhanced Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11050509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Geological carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a promising technology for curbing the global warming crisis by reduction of the overall carbon footprint. Degradation of cement wellbore casings due to carbonation reactions in the underground CO2 storage environment is one of the central issues in assessing the long-term success of the CCS operations. However, the complexity of hydrated cement coupled with extreme subsurface environmental conditions makes it difficult to understand the carbonation reaction mechanisms leading to the loss of well integrity. In this work, we use biased ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to explore the reactivity of supercritical CO2 with the basal and edge surfaces of a model hydrated cement phase—portlandite—in dry scCO2 and water-rich conditions. Our simulations show that in dry scCO2 conditions, the undercoordinated edge surfaces of portlandite experience a fast barrierless reaction with CO2, while the fully hydroxylated basal surfaces suppress the formation of carbonate ions, resulting in a higher reactivity barrier. We deduce that the rate-limiting step in scCO2 conditions is the formation of the surface carbonate barrier which controls the diffusion of CO2 through the layer. The presence of water hinders direct interaction of CO2 with portlandite as H2O molecules form well-structured surface layers. In the water-rich environment, CO2 undergoes a concerted reaction with H2O and surface hydroxyl groups to form bicarbonate complexes. We relate the variation of the free-energy barriers in the formation of the bicarbonate complexes to the structure of the water layer at the interface which is, in turn, dictated by the surface chemistry and the degree of nanoconfinement.
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Zhou S, Yan X, Liu C, Qian B, Zhe Liu J, Zhang L. Can CO 2 and Steam React in the Absence of Electrolysis at High Temperatures? CHEMSUSCHEM 2020; 13:6660-6667. [PMID: 33052035 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202002009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The fundamental question of whether CO2 can react with steam at high temperatures in the absence of electrolysis or high pressures is answered. These two gases are commonly co-present as industrial wastes. Herein, a simple experiment by flowing CO2 and steam through a CaCl2 matrix at 500-1000 °C and atmospheric pressure was designed. Comprehensive characterizations and density functional theory calculations were conducted. Meanwhile, this study aims to recover HCl from CaCl2 via a low-emission oxy-pyrohydrolysis process. As confirmed, CO2 and steam interact strongly on the CaCl2 surface, leading to an explicit formation of CaCO3 /CaO and a nearly complete release of HCl. This is mainly contributed to a halved energy required for the splitting of H2 O, resulting from the formation of a bicarbonate-like structure to replace Cl- out of CaCl2 , an otherwise industrial waste, whilst an important dopant for carbon capture, utilization and storage, and medium for electrochemical synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Zhou
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Xue Yan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Cheng Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Binbin Qian
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Jefferson Zhe Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Lian Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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Placencia-Gómez E, Kerisit SN, Mehta HS, Qafoku O, Thompson CJ, Graham TR, Ilton ES, Loring JS. Critical Water Coverage during Forsterite Carbonation in Thin Water Films: Activating Dissolution and Mass Transport. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6888-6899. [PMID: 32383859 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In geologic carbon sequestration, CO2 is injected into geologic reservoirs as a supercritical fluid (scCO2). The carbonation of divalent silicates exposed to humidified scCO2 occurs in angstroms to nanometers thick adsorbed H2O films. A threshold H2O film thickness is required for carbonate precipitation, but a mechanistic understanding is lacking. In this study, we investigated carbonation of forsterite (Mg2SiO4) in humidified scCO2 (50 °C and 90 bar), which serves as a model system for understanding subsurface divalent silicate carbonation reactivity. Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy pinpointed that magnesium carbonate precipitation begins at 1.5 monolayers of adsorbed H2O. At about this same H2O coverage, transmission infrared spectroscopy showed that forsterite dissolution begins and electrical impedance spectroscopy demonstrated that diffusive transport accelerates. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the onset of diffusion is due to an abrupt decrease in the free-energy barriers for lateral mobility of outer-spherically adsorbed Mg2+. The dissolution and mass transport controls on divalent silicate reactivity in wet scCO2 could be advantageous for maximizing permeability near the wellbore and minimize leakage through the caprock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmundo Placencia-Gómez
- Département ArGEnCo/Géophysique appliquée, Urban and Environmental Engineering, University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Sebastien N Kerisit
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Hardeep S Mehta
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Odeta Qafoku
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Christopher J Thompson
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Trent R Graham
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Eugene S Ilton
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - John S Loring
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
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Thomas DA, Mucha E, Lettow M, Meijer G, Rossi M, von Helden G. Characterization of a trans-trans Carbonic Acid-Fluoride Complex by Infrared Action Spectroscopy in Helium Nanodroplets. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:5815-5823. [PMID: 30883095 PMCID: PMC6727381 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
![]()
The high Lewis basicity
and small ionic radius of fluoride promote
the formation of strong ionic hydrogen bonds in the complexation of
fluoride with protic molecules. Herein, we report that carbonic acid,
a thermodynamically disfavored species that is challenging to investigate
experimentally, forms a complex with fluoride in the gas phase. Intriguingly,
this complex is highly stable and is observed in abundance upon nanoelectrospray
ionization of an aqueous sodium fluoride solution in the presence
of gas-phase carbon dioxide. We characterize the structure and properties
of the carbonic acid–fluoride complex, F–(H2CO3), and its deuterated isotopologue, F–(D2CO3), by helium nanodroplet
infrared action spectroscopy in the photon energy range of 390–2800
cm–1. The complex adopts a C2v symmetry structure with the carbonic acid
in a planar trans–trans conformation and both OH groups forming
ionic hydrogen bonds with the fluoride. Substantial vibrational anharmonic
effects are observed in the infrared spectra, most notably a strong
blue shift of the symmetric hydrogen stretching fundamental relative
to predictions from the harmonic approximation or vibrational second-order
perturbation theory. Ab initio thermostated ring-polymer molecular
dynamics simulations indicate that this blue shift originates from
strong coupling between the hydrogen stretching and bending vibrations,
resulting in an effective weakening of the OH···F– ionic hydrogen bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Thomas
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft , Faradayweg 4-6 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Eike Mucha
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft , Faradayweg 4-6 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Maike Lettow
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft , Faradayweg 4-6 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Gerard Meijer
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft , Faradayweg 4-6 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Mariana Rossi
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft , Faradayweg 4-6 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Gert von Helden
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft , Faradayweg 4-6 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
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Miller QRS, Kaszuba JP, Schaef HT, Bowden ME, McGrail BP, Rosso KM. Anomalously low activation energy of nanoconfined MgCO3 precipitation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:6835-6837. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cc01337g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Experimental study of nanoconfined MgCO3 nucleation and growth processes reveals elevated kinetics due to less strongly hydrated Mg2+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quin R. S. Miller
- Department of Geology and Geophysics
- University of Wyoming
- Laramie
- USA
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate
| | - John P. Kaszuba
- Department of Geology and Geophysics
- University of Wyoming
- Laramie
- USA
- School of Energy Resources
| | - Herbert T. Schaef
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Richland
- USA
| | - Mark E. Bowden
- William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Richland
- USA
| | - B. Peter McGrail
- Energy and Environment Directorate
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Richland
- USA
| | - Kevin M. Rosso
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Richland
- USA
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