1
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Wang Y, Huang B, Li Z. Electric Field-Enhanced Ion Rejection Rate in Freeze Desalination. Chemphyschem 2024:e202400397. [PMID: 38960874 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202400397] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Freeze desalination is an appealing method for seawater desalination through freezing seawater. The percentage of ions in the liquid phase, which is termed ion rejection rate, is a critical factor affecting the performance of freeze desalination. Improving the ion rejection rate is an important topic for freeze desalination. In this work, we investigate the effects of electric fields on the ion rejection rate during the freezing of seawater through molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that the ion rejection rate increases with increasing electric field strength. The enhanced ion rejection rate is due to the reduction of the energy barrier at the ice-water interface caused by the electric field, which affects the orientation of water molecules and ion-water interactions. However, the electric field hinders the ice growth rate, which affects the productivity of freeze desalination. Nevertheless, the finding in this work offers a new idea to improve the ion rejection rate. Practically, a trade-off needs to be found to optimize the overall performance of freeze desalination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiang Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Baoling Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Zhigang Li
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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2
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Pishro KA, Gonzalez MH. Use of deep eutectic solvents in environmentally-friendly dye-sensitized solar cells and their physicochemical properties: a brief review. RSC Adv 2024; 14:14480-14504. [PMID: 38708112 PMCID: PMC11063684 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra01610f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
A novel way to mitigate the greenhouse effect is to use dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to convert carbon dioxide from the air into useful products, such as hydrocarbons, which can also store energy from the sun, a plentiful, clean, and safe resource. The conversion of CO2 can help reduce the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. However, there is a major obstacle in using DSSCs, since many solar devices operate with organic electrolytes, producing pollutants including toxic substances. Therefore, a key research area is to find new eco-friendly electrolytes that can effectively dissolve carbon dioxide. One option is to use deep eutectic solvents (DESs), which are potential substitutes for ionic liquids (ILs) and have similar advantages, such as being customizable, economical, and environmentally friendly. DESs are composed of low-cost materials and have very low toxicity and high biodegradability, making them suitable for use as electrolytes in DSSCs, within the framework of green chemistry. The purpose of this brief review is to explore the existing knowledge about how CO2 dissolves in DESs and how these solvents can be used as electrolytes in solar devices, especially in DSSCs. The physical and chemical properties of the DESs are described, and areas are suggested where further research should be focused.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khatereh A Pishro
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), National Institute for Alternative Technologies of Detection, Toxicological Evaluation and Removal of Micropollutants and Radioactives (INCT-DATREM) São José do Rio Preto SP 15054-000 Brazil +55 17 32212512 +55 17 32212512
| | - Mario Henrique Gonzalez
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), National Institute for Alternative Technologies of Detection, Toxicological Evaluation and Removal of Micropollutants and Radioactives (INCT-DATREM) São José do Rio Preto SP 15054-000 Brazil +55 17 32212512 +55 17 32212512
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3
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Wang J, An S, Ren J. Regulating Microstructure and Macroscopic Properties in Saturated Salt Solutions Containing Disordered Anions and Cations by Magnetic Field. Molecules 2024; 29:543. [PMID: 38276621 PMCID: PMC10819030 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020543] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Saturated aqueous salt solutions have diverse applications in food production, mineral processing, pharmaceuticals, and environmental monitoring. However, the random and disordered arrangement of ions in these solutions poses limitations across different fields. In this study, we employ magnetic fields to regulate the disordered arrangement by a comprehensive methodology combining contact angle measurement, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and molecular dynamics simulations on saturated KCl solutions. Our findings reveal that weak magnetic fields impede the formation of K-Cl contact pairs and disrupt hydrogen bond networks, particularly DDAA and free OH types. However, they facilitate the interaction between water molecules and ions, leading to an increase in the number of K-O and Cl-H contact pairs, along with an expansion in ion hydration radius. These changes affect macroscopic properties, including the interaction with solid substrates and potential solubility increases. Our experimental and simulation results mutually validate each other, contributing to a theoretical framework for studying magnetic field-material interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihong Wang
- School of Physics and School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Shasha An
- Department of Elementary Education, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China;
| | - Junchao Ren
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
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4
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Song Y, Li K, Sun H, Chen B, Yang M. New Sights on derived behaviors of methane hydrate molecular structure in Na+/Cl- ions invading process. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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5
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Wu S, Yang X, Jing H, Chu Y, Yuan J, Zhu Z, Huang K. Effect of external electric fields on sulfur dioxide–water systems. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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6
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Abstract
Nanoporous carbon texture makes fundamental understanding of the electrochemical processes challenging. Based on density functional theory (DFT) results, the proposed atomistic approach takes into account topological and chemical defects of the electrodes and attributes to them a partial charge that depends on the applied voltage. Using a realistic carbon nanotexture, a model is developed to simulate the ionic charge both at the surface and in the subnanometric pores of the electrodes of a supercapacitor. Before entering the smallest pores, ions dehydrate at the external surface of the electrodes, leading to asymmetric adsorption behavior. Ions in subnanometric pores are mostly fully dehydrated. The simulated capacitance is in qualitative agreement with experiments. Part of these ions remain irreversibly trapped upon discharge. Ion desolvation and confinement are key physical processes in porous carbon-based supercapacitors undergoing charging and discharging cycles. We investigate electrolyte interactions between polarized porous carbon with subnanometer pore sizes and aqueous sodium chloride electrolyte, using molecular dynamics. Inspired by recent first-principles calculations, we develop a scheme accounting for chemical defects in electrodes where only the non-sp2 carbons species carry an extra negative charge (on the anode) and an extra positive charge (on the cathode) due to voltage polarization. This drives electrolyte species (ions and solvent molecules; water, in this work) to adsorb at the electrode surface and in subnanometric pores upon polarization. First, we observe an asymmetrical desolvation process of sodium and chloride ions at the external surface of the electrodes. The ionic distribution at the external surface of the electrodes is consistent with the Debye–Hückel electric potential equation and empirical trends observed for nonporous electrodes. In a second stage, we demonstrate that the nanoporosity of the electrodes is filled with ions and scarce water molecules and contributes to about 20% of the overall capacitance. A fraction of desolvated ions are irreversibly trapped in the core of electrodes during discharge. While maintaining the overall electroneutrality of the simulation cell, we find that anodes and cathodes do not carry the same amount of ions at all time steps, leading to charge imbalance.
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7
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Binding of Arsenic by Common Functional Groups: An Experimental and Quantum-Mechanical Study. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12063210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic is a well-known contaminant present in different environmental compartments and in human organs and tissues. Inorganic As(III) represents one of the most dangerous arsenic forms. Its toxicity is attributed to its great affinity with the thiol groups of proteins. Considering the simultaneous presence in all environmental compartments of other common functional groups, we here present a study aimed at evaluating their contribution to the As(III) complexation. As(III) interactions with four (from di- to hexa-) carboxylic acids, five (from mono- to penta-) amines, and four amino acids were evaluated via experimental methods and, in simplified systems, also by quantum-mechanical calculations. Data were analyzed also with respect to those previously reported for mixed thiol-carboxylic ligands to evaluate the contribution of each functional group (-SH, -COOH, and -NH2) toward the As(III) complexation. Formation constants of As(III) complex species were experimentally determined, and data were analyzed for each class of ligand. An empirical relationship was reported, taking into account the contribution of each functional group to the complexation process and allowing for a rough estimate of the stability of species in systems where As(III) and thiol, carboxylic, or amino groups are involved. Quantum-mechanical calculations allowed for the evaluation and the characterization of the main chelation reactions of As(III). The potential competitive effects of the investigated groups were evaluated using cysteine, a prototypical species possessing all the functional groups under investigation. Results confirm the higher binding capabilities of the thiol group under different circumstances, but also indicate the concrete possibility of the simultaneous binding of As(III) by the thiol and the carboxylic groups.
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8
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Chatterjee S, Kumar I, Ghanta KC, Hens A, Biswas G. Insight into molecular rearrangement of a sessile ionic nanodroplet with applied electric field. Chem Eng Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.117083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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9
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Creazzo F, Luber S. Water-Assisted Chemical Route Towards the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at the Hydrated (110) Ruthenium Oxide Surface: Heterogeneous Catalysis via DFT-MD and Metadynamics Simulations. Chemistry 2021; 27:17024-17037. [PMID: 34486184 PMCID: PMC9293344 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202102356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Notwithstanding that RuO2 is a promising catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a plethora of fundamental details on its catalytic properties are still elusive, severely limiting its large-scale deployment. It is also established experimentally that corrosion and wettability of metal oxides can, in fact, enhance the catalytic activity for OER owing to the formation of a hydrated surface layer. However, the mechanistic interplay between surface wettability, interfacial water dynamics and OER across RuO2 , and what degree these processes are correlated are still debated. Herein, spin-polarized Density Functional Theory Molecular Dynamics (DFT-MD) simulations, coupled with advanced enhanced sampling methods in the well-tempered metadynamics framework, are applied to gain a global understanding of RuO2 aqueous interface (explicit water solvent) in catalyzing the OER, and hence possibly help in the design of novel catalysts in the context of photochemical water oxidation. The present study quantitatively assesses the free-energy barriers behind the OER at the (110)-RuO2 catalyst surface revealing plausible pathways composing the reaction network of the O2 evolution. In particular, OER is investigated at room temperature when such a surface is exposed to both gas-phase and liquid-phase water. Albeit a unique efficient pathway has been identified in the gas-phase OER, a surprisingly lowest-free-energy-requiring reaction route is possible when (110)-RuO2 is in contact with explicit liquid water. By estimating the free-energy surfaces associated to these processes, we reveal a noticeable water-assisted OER mechanism which involves a crucial proton-transfer-step assisted by the local water environment. These findings pave the way toward the systematic usage of DFT-MD coupled with metadynamics techniques for the fine assessment of the activity of catalysts, considering finite-temperature and explicit-solvent effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra Luber
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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10
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Cassone G, Sponer J, Saija F. Molecular dissociation and proton transfer in aqueous methane solution under an electric field. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:25649-25657. [PMID: 34782902 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp04202e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Methane-water mixtures are ubiquitous in our solar system and they have been the subject of a wide variety of experimental, theoretical, and computational studies aimed at understanding their behaviour under disparate thermodynamic scenarios, up to extreme planetary ice conditions of pressures and temperatures [Lee and Scandolo, Nat. Commun., 2011, 2, 185]. Although it is well known that electric fields, by interacting with condensed matter, can produce a range of catalytic effects which can be similar to those observed when material systems are pressurised, to the best of our knowledge, no quantum-based computational investigations of methane-water mixtures under an electric field have been reported so far. Here we present a study relying upon state-of-the-art ab initio molecular dynamics simulations where a liquid aqueous methane solution is exposed to strong oriented static and homogeneous electric fields. It turns out that a series of field-induced effects on the dipoles, polarisation, and the electronic structure of both methane and water molecules are recorded. Moreover, upon increasing the field strength, increasing fractions of water molecules are not only re-oriented towards the field direction, but are also dissociated by the field, leading to the release of oxonium and hydroxyde ions in the mixture. However, in contrast to what is observed upon pressurisation (∼50 GPa), where the presence of the water counterions triggers methane ionisation and other reactions, methane molecules preserve their integrity up to the strongest field explored (i.e., 0.50 V Å-1). Interestingly, neither the field-induced molecular dissociation of neat water (i.e., 0.30 V Å-1) nor the proton conductivity typical of pure aqueous samples at these field regimes (i.e., 1.3 S cm-1) are affected by the presence of hydrophobic interactions, at least in a methane-water mixture containing a molar fraction of 40% methane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy.
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolska 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Franz Saija
- Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy.
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11
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Dan L, Zhang K, Huang Z, Wang F, Wang Q, Li J. Molecular-level evaluation of ionic transport under external electric fields in biological dielectric liquids. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.116883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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12
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Cassone G, Sponer J, Saija F. Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Studies of the Electric-Field-Induced Catalytic Effects on Liquids. Top Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11244-021-01487-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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13
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Futera Z, English NJ. Water Breakup at Fe 2O 3-Hematite/Water Interfaces: Influence of External Electric Fields from Nonequilibrium Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:6818-6826. [PMID: 34270253 PMCID: PMC8397349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The dynamical properties of physically and chemically adsorbed water molecules at pristine hematite-(001) surfaces have been studied by means of nonequilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics (NE-AIMD) in the NVT ensemble at room temperature, in the presence of externally applied, uniform static electric fields of increasing intensity. The dissociation of water molecules to form chemically adsorbed species was scrutinized, in addition to charge redistribution and Grotthus proton hopping between water molecules. Dynamical properties of the adsorbed water molecules and OH- and H3O+ ions were gauged, such as the hydrogen bonds between protons in water molecules and the bridging oxygen atoms at the hematite surface, as well as the interactions between oxygen atoms in adsorbed water molecules and iron atoms at the hematite surface. The development of Helmholtz charge layers via water breakup at Fe2O3-hematite/water interfaces is also an interesting feature, with the development of protonic conduction on the surface and more bulk-like water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdenek Futera
- Faculty
of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Niall J. English
- School
of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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14
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Pial TH, Sachar HS, Desai PR, Das S. Overscreening, Co-Ion-Dominated Electroosmosis, and Electric Field Strength Mediated Flow Reversal in Polyelectrolyte Brush Functionalized Nanochannels. ACS NANO 2021; 15:6507-6516. [PMID: 33797221 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c09248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Controlling the direction and strength of nanofluidic electrohydrodyanmic transport in the presence of an externally applied electric field is extremely important in a number of nanotechnological applications. Here, we employ all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to discover the possibility of changing the direction of electroosmotic (EOS) liquid flows by merely changing the electric field strength in a nanochannel functionalized with polyelectrolyte (PE) brushes. In exploring this, we have uncovered three facets of nanoconfined PE brush behavior and resulting EOS transport. First, we identify the onset of an overscreening effect: such overscreening refers to the presence of more counterions (Na+) within the brush layer than needed to neutralize the negative brush charges. Accordingly, as a consequence of the overscreening, in the bulk liquid outside the brush layer, there is a greater number of co-ions (Cl-) than counterions in the presence of an added salt (NaCl). Second, this specific ion distribution ensures that the overall EOS flow is along the direction of motion of the co-ions. Such co-ion-dictated EOS transport directly contradicts the notion that EOS flow is always dictated by the motion of the counterions. Finally, for large-enough electric fields, the brush height reduces significantly, causing some of the excess overscreening-inducing counterions to squeeze out of the PE brush layer into the brush-free bulk. As a result, the overscreening effect disappears and the number of co-ions and counterions outside the PE brush layer become similar. Despite that there is an EOS transport, this EOS transport, unlike the standard EOS transport that occurs due to the imbalance of the co-ions and counterions, occurs since a larger residence time of the water molecules in the first solvation shell of the counterions (Na+) ensures a water transport in the direction of motion of the counterions. The net effect is the reversal of the direction of the EOS transport by merely changing the strength of the electric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turash Haque Pial
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Harnoor Singh Sachar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Parth Rakesh Desai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Siddhartha Das
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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15
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Wang X, Toroz D, Kim S, Clegg SL, Park GS, Di Tommaso D. Density functional theory based molecular dynamics study of solution composition effects on the solvation shell of metal ions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:16301-16313. [PMID: 32647838 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp01957g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We present an ab initio molecular dynamics study of the alkali metal ions Li+, Na+, K+ and Cs+, and of the alkaline earth metal ions Mg2+ and Ca2+ in both pure water and electrolyte solutions containing the counterions Cl- and SO42-. Simulations were conducted using different density functional theory methods (PBE, BLYP and revPBE), with and without the inclusion of dispersion interactions (-D3). Analysis of the ion-water structure and interaction strength, water exchange between the first and second hydration shell, and hydrogen bond network and low-frequency reorientation dynamics around the metal ions have been used to characterise the influence of solution composition on the ionic solvation shell. Counterions affect the properties of the hydration shell not only when they are directly coordinated to the metal ion, but also when they are at the second coordination shell. Chloride ions reduce the sodium hydration shell and expand the calcium hydration shell by stabilizing under-coordinated hydrated Na(H2O)5+ complexes and over-coordinated Ca(H2O)72+. The same behaviour is observed in CaSO4(aq), where Ca2+ and SO42- form almost exclusively solvent-shared ion pairs. Water exchange between the first and second hydration shell around Ca2+ in CaSO4(aq) is drastically decelerated compared with the simulations of the hydrated metal ion (single Ca2+, no counterions). Velocity autocorrelation function analysis, used to probe the strength of the local ion-water interaction, shows a smoother decay of Mg2+ in MgCl2(aq), which is a clear indication of a looser inter-hexahedral vibration in the presence of chloride ions located in the second coordination shell of Mg2+. The hydrogen bond statistics and orientational dynamics in the ionic solvation shell show that the influence on the water-water network cannot only be ascribed to the specific cation-water interaction, but also to the subtle interplay between the level of hydration of the ions, and the interactions between ions, especially those of opposite charge. As many reactive processes involving solvated metal ions occur in environments that are far from pure water but rich in ions, this computational study shows how the solution composition can result in significant differences in behaviour and function of the ionic solvation shell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangwen Wang
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Materials Research Institute, Thomas Young Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK.
| | - Dimitrios Toroz
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Materials Research Institute, Thomas Young Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK.
| | - Seonmyeong Kim
- Center for THz-driven Biological Systems, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea and Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon-Si, Gyeonggi-do 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Simon L Clegg
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Gun-Sik Park
- Center for THz-driven Biological Systems, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea and Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon-Si, Gyeonggi-do 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Devis Di Tommaso
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Materials Research Institute, Thomas Young Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK.
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16
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Zhou K, Xu Z. Field-enhanced selectivity in nanoconfined ionic transport. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:6512-6521. [PMID: 32154818 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr10731b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fluid transport confined in nanochannels shows ultrafast permeation and highly efficient separation performance. However, the size-controlled selectivity of hydrated ions with a similar valence and size, such as alkali ions, is well below 5. We propose in this work to boost ion selectivity through the interaction with the wall of flow channels, which can be enhanced by applying an external electric field across the channel. Molecular simulations show that for ions diffusing near the walls of a graphene nanochannel, the hydration shells are perturbed, endowing the contrast in ion-wall interactions to modify the ion-specific free energy landscape. The trapping/hopping nature of ion diffusion near the wall leads to the conclusion that the diffusivity depends on the free energy barriers rather than the hydration size. This effect can be magnified by elevating the field strength, yielding more than ∼10-fold enhancement in the diffusivity-specific selectivity. With recent experimental advances in external electric field control and local electric field modulation near the surface, this work demonstrates a possible route to achieve high selectivity of alkali ions in nanofluidics, and explore the molecular structures and dynamics of hydrated ions near a surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhou
- Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Zhiping Xu
- Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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17
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Creazzo F, Pezzotti S, Bougueroua S, Serva A, Sponer J, Saija F, Cassone G, Gaigeot MP. Enhanced conductivity of water at the electrified air–water interface: a DFT-MD characterization. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:10438-10446. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp06970d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
DFT-based molecular dynamics simulations of the electrified air–liquid water interface are presented, where a homogeneous field is applied parallel to the surface plane (i.e. parallel to the 2D-HBonded-Network/2DN).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alessandra Serva
- Sorbonne Université
- CNRS
- Physico-chimie des électrolytes et nano-systèmes interfaciaux
- PHENIX
- Paris
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
| | | | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
- CNR-IPCF
- 98158 Messina
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18
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Duignan TT, Zhao XS. The Born model can accurately describe electrostatic ion solvation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:25126-25135. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cp04148c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The solvation free energies of ions in water are consistent with the Born linear response model if the centre on which the ion–water repulsion force acts is moved from the oxygen atom towards the hydrogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy T. Duignan
- School of Chemical Engineering
- The University of Queensland
- St Lucia
- Australia
| | - X. S. Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering
- The University of Queensland
- St Lucia
- Australia
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19
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Aydin F, Zhan C, Ritt C, Epsztein R, Elimelech M, Schwegler E, Pham TA. Similarities and differences between potassium and ammonium ions in liquid water: a first-principles study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:2540-2548. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp06163k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding ion solvation in liquid water is critical in optimizing materials for a wide variety of emerging technologies, including water desalination and purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fikret Aydin
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Livermore
- USA
| | - Cheng Zhan
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Livermore
- USA
| | - Cody Ritt
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Yale University
- New Haven
- USA
| | - Razi Epsztein
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Yale University
- New Haven
- USA
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
| | - Menachem Elimelech
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Yale University
- New Haven
- USA
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20
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Yang X, Cheng K, Jia GZ. Microwave heating and non-thermal effects of sodium chloride aqueous solution. Mol Phys 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2019.1662505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yang
- College of Physical and Electronics Engineering, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ke Cheng
- College of Optoelectronic Technology, Chengdu University of Information technology, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guo-zhu Jia
- College of Physical and Electronics Engineering, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
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21
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Wang J, Lin H, Li F, Li S, An S, Yuan J. Concentration-dependent structure of mixed NH4Cl and (NH4)2SO4 aqueous solutions from the X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. J Mol Struct 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2019.01.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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22
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Creazzo F, Galimberti DR, Pezzotti S, Gaigeot MP. DFT-MD of the (110)-Co3O4 cobalt oxide semiconductor in contact with liquid water, preliminary chemical and physical insights into the electrochemical environment. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:041721. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5053729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Creazzo
- LAMBE UMR8587, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS,
91025 Evry, France
| | | | - Simone Pezzotti
- LAMBE UMR8587, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS,
91025 Evry, France
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23
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The Impact of the Electric Field on Surface Condensation of Water Vapor: Insight from Molecular Dynamics Simulation. NANOMATERIALS 2019; 9:nano9010064. [PMID: 30621199 PMCID: PMC6359217 DOI: 10.3390/nano9010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to study the coupling effect of electric field strength and surface wettability on the condensation process of water vapor. Our results show that an electric field can rotate water molecules upward and restrict condensation. Formed clusters are stretched to become columns above the threshold strength of the field, causing the condensation rate to drop quickly. The enhancement of surface attraction force boosts the rearrangement of water molecules adjacent to the surface and exaggerates the threshold value for shape transformation. In addition, the contact area between clusters and the surface increases with increasing amounts of surface attraction force, which raises the condensation efficiency. Thus, the condensation rate of water vapor on a surface under an electric field is determined by competition between intermolecular forces from the electric field and the surface.
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24
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Li W, Wang W, Hou Q, Yan Y, Dai C, Zhang J. Alternating electric field-induced ion current rectification and electroosmotic pump in ultranarrow charged carbon nanocones. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:27910-27916. [PMID: 30379156 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp05285a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pumping fluid in ultranarrow (sub-2 nm) synthetic channels, analogous to protein channels, has widespread applications in nanofluidic devices, molecular separation, and related fields. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study a symmetrical sinusoidal electric field-induced electroosmotic pump in ultranarrow charged carbon nanocone (CNC) channels. The results show that the CNC channels could rectify the ion current because of the different ion flow rates in the positive and negative half circles of the sinusoidal electric field. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) rectification yielded by the ion current rectification is also revealed, and net water flow from the base to the tip of the CNC channels is observed. The simulations also show that the preferential ion current conduction direction in the ultranarrow CNC channels (from base to tip) is opposite to that in conical nanochannels with tip diameters larger than 5 nm (from tip to base). However, the preferential EOF direction is the same as that of large conical nanochannels (from base to tip). We also investigated the influences of ion concentration and the amplitudes and periods of the sinusoidal electric field on the EOF pump. The results show that high ion concentration, large amplitudes, and long periods are desired for high EOF pumping efficiency. Finally, through comparison with a constant electric field and a pressure-induced water pump, we prove that the EOF pump under an alternating electric field has a higher pump efficiency. The approach outlined in this work provides a general scheme for pumping fluid in ultranarrow charged conical nanochannels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum, 266580 Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
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25
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Cassone G, Creazzo F, Saija F. Ionic diffusion and proton transfer of MgCl2 and CaCl2 aqueous solutions: an ab initio study under electric field. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2018.1513650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Fabrizio Creazzo
- Université d'Evry val d'Essonne-Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
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26
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He Z, Cui H, Hao S, Wang L, Zhou J. Electric-Field Effects on Ionic Hydration: A Molecular Dynamics Study. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:5991-5998. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b02773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjin He
- School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan 411105, China
| | - Haishuai Cui
- School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan 411105, China
| | - Shihua Hao
- School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan 411105, China
| | - Liping Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan 411105, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China
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27
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Mohammadpour F, Heydari Dokoohaki M, Zolghadr AR, Ghatee MH, Moradi M. Confinement of aqueous mixtures of ionic liquids between amorphous TiO2 slit nanopores: electrostatic field induction. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:29493-29502. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp04500c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Electrostatic potential in the vicinity of the surface is induced when aqueous mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic ionic liquids (ILs) are confined between a slit nanopore of amorphous but not crystalline TiO2 semiconductors.
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28
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Cassone G, Sponer J, Sponer JE, Pietrucci F, Saitta AM, Saija F. Synthesis of (d)-erythrose from glycolaldehyde aqueous solutions under electric field. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:3211-3214. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cc00045j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A Miller-like numerical experiment demonstrates that ubiquitarious molecules such as water and glycolaldehyde can synthesize (d)-erythrose, one of the direct precursors of ribose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University
- 77146 Olomouc
| | - Judit E. Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University
- 77146 Olomouc
| | - Fabio Pietrucci
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 06, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, CNRS, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
- F-75005 Paris
- France
| | - A. Marco Saitta
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 06, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, CNRS, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
- F-75005 Paris
- France
| | - Franz Saija
- CNR-IPCF, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 37
- 98158 Messina
- Italy
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29
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Cassone G, Calogero G, Sponer J, Saija F. Mobilities of iodide anions in aqueous solutions for applications in natural dye-sensitized solar cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:13038-13046. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp01155a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) composed of aqueous electrolytes represent an environmentally friendly, low-cost, and concrete alternative to standard DSSCs and typical solar cells. A joint experimental/computational study revealed the microscopic details behind the conduction properties of iodide anions in aqueous dye-sensitized solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
| | | | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
| | - Franz Saija
- CNR-IPCF
- Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 37
- 98158 Messina
- Italy
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30
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Alaghemandi M, Koller V, Green JR. Nonexponential kinetics of ion pair dissociation in electrofreezing water. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:26396-26402. [PMID: 28944386 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp04572g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Temporally- or spatially-heterogeneous environments can participate in many kinetic processes, from chemical reactions and self-assembly to the forced dissociation of biomolecules. Here, we simulate the molecular dynamics of a model ion pair forced to dissociate in an explicit, aqueous solution. Triggering dissociation with an external electric field causes the surrounding water to electrofreeze and the ion pair population to decay nonexponentially. To further probe the role of the aqueous environment in the kinetics, we also simulate dissociation events under a purely mechanical force on the ion pair. In this case, regardless of whether the surrounding water is a liquid or already electrofrozen, the ion pair population decays exponentially with a well-defined rate constant that is specific to the medium and applied force. These simulation data, and the rate parameters we extract, suggest the disordered kinetics in an electrofreezing medium are a result of the comparable time scales of two concurrent processes, electrofreezing and dissociation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Alaghemandi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
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31
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Futera Z, English NJ. Communication: Influence of external static and alternating electric fields on water from long-time non-equilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics. J Chem Phys 2017; 147:031102. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4994694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zdenek Futera
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Niall J. English
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
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32
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Fischer SA, Dunlap BI, Gunlycke D. Proton transport through hydrated chitosan-based polymer membranes under electric fields. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/polb.24361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brett I. Dunlap
- Chemistry Division; Naval Research Laboratory; Washington DC 20375
| | - Daniel Gunlycke
- Chemistry Division; Naval Research Laboratory; Washington DC 20375
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33
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Cassone G, Creazzo F, Giaquinta PV, Sponer J, Saija F. Ionic diffusion and proton transfer in aqueous solutions of alkali metal salts. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:20420-20429. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cp03663a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We report on a series of ab initio molecular dynamics investigations on LiCl, NaCl, and KCl aqueous solutions under the effect of static electric fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
| | - Fabrizio Creazzo
- Université d'Evry val d'Essonne-Université Paris-Saclay
- 91025 Evry
- France
| | - Paolo V. Giaquinta
- Università degli Studi di Messina
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche
- Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra
- 98166 Messina
- Italy
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences
- 61265 Brno
- Czech Republic
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