Water Freezes at Near-Zero Temperatures Using Carbon Nanotube-Based Electrodes under Static Electric Fields

Probing Complex Chemical Processes at the Molecular Level with Vibrational Spectroscopy and X-ray Tools

Understanding the origins of structure and bonding at the molecular level in complex chemical systems spanning magnitudes in length and time is of paramount interest in physical chemistry. We have coupled vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray based techniques with a series of microreactors and aerosol beams to tease out intricate and sometimes subtle interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, proton transfer, and noncovalent interactions. This allows for unraveling the self-assembly of arginine-oleic acid complexes in an aqueous solution and growth processes in a metal-organic framework. Terahertz and infrared spectroscopy provide an intimate view of the hydrogen-bond network and associated phase changes with temperature in neopentyl glycol. The hydrogen-bond network in aqueous glycerol aerosols and levels of protonation of nicotine in aqueous aerosols are visualized. Future directions in probing the hydrogen-bond networks in deep eutectic solvents and organic frameworks are described, and we suggest how X-ray scattering coupled to X-ray spectroscopy can offer insight into the reactivity of organic aerosols.

Novel SLIPS based on the photo-thermal MOFs with enhanced anti-icing/de-icing properties

A photo-thermal anti-icing/de-icing SLIPS coating is designed based on porous light-responsive MOFs. Due to the strong light absorption and high light-thermal conversion, the as-synthetic SCMOFs exhibited prolonged freezing delay time and depressed water crystallization point under light irradiation. Meantime, the SCMOFs exhibit good deicing properties. With the irradiation, the half-melted ice slips off quickly.

The novel SLIPS based on photo-thermal MOFs exhibits an efficient and energy-saving active and passive anti/de-icing ability under light irradiation.

Molecular Properties and Chemical Transformations Near Interfaces

The properties of bulk water and aqueous solutions are known to change in the vicinity of an interface and/or in a confined environment, including the thermodynamics of ion selectivity at interfaces, transition states and pathways of chemical reactions, and nucleation events and phase growth. Here we describe joint progress in identifying unifying concepts about how air, liquid, and solid interfaces can alter molecular properties and chemical reactivity compared to bulk water and multicomponent solutions. We also discuss progress made in interfacial chemistry through advancements in new theory, molecular simulation, and experiments.