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Liu S, Cao R, Hu J, Tian H, Ma Y, Xue H, Li Z, Yao Z, Li R, Liao P, Wang Y, Yang Zhang L, Yin G, Sasaki U, Guo J, Wang L, Zhang X, Zhou W, Chen J, Fu W, Liu L. Degree of disorder-regulated ion transport through amorphous monolayer carbon. RSC Adv 2024; 14:17032-17040. [PMID: 38808236 PMCID: PMC11130763 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra01523a] [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: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Nanopore technology, re-fueled by two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and MoS2, controls mass transport by allowing certain species while denying others at the nanoscale and has a wide application range in DNA sequencing, nano-power generation, and others. With their low transmembrane transport resistance and high permeability stemming from their ultrathin nature, crystalline 2D materials do not possess nanoscale holes naturally, thus requiring additional fabrication to create nanopores. Herein, we demonstrate that nanopores exist in amorphous monolayer carbon (AMC) grown at low temperatures. The size and density of nanopores can be tuned by the growth temperature, which was experimentally verified by atomic images and further corroborated by kinetic Monte Carlo simulation. Furthermore, AMC films with varied degrees of disorder (DOD) exhibit tunable transmembrane ionic conductance over two orders of magnitude when serving as nanopore membranes. This work demonstrates the DOD-tuned property in amorphous monolayer carbon and provides a new candidate for modern membrane science and technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhuo Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Ran Cao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Jiani Hu
- School of Physics, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Huifeng Tian
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Yinhang Ma
- School of Physical Sciences and CAS Key Laboratory of Vacuum Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Honglei Xue
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Zhenjiang Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Zhixin Yao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
- Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology Taiyuan 030024 China
| | - Ruijie Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Peichi Liao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Yihan Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Lina Yang Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Ge Yin
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - U Sasaki
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Junjie Guo
- Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology Taiyuan 030024 China
| | - Lifen Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory Dongguan Guangdong 523808 China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capita Medical University Beijing 100069 China
| | - Wu Zhou
- School of Physical Sciences and CAS Key Laboratory of Vacuum Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Ji Chen
- School of Physics, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Wangyang Fu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Lei Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University Beijing 100871 China
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2
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Pecoraro A, Muñoz-García AB, Sannino GV, Veneri PD, Pavone M. Exotic hexagonal NaCl atom-thin layer on methylammonium lead iodide perovskite: new hints for perovskite solar cells from first-principles calculations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:1602-1607. [PMID: 38165025 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp02712k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Alkali halides are simple inorganic compounds extensively used as surface modifiers in optoelectronic devices. In perovskite solar cells (PSCs), they act as interlayers between the light absorber material and the charge selective layers improving their contact quality. They introduce surface dipoles that enable the fine tuning of the relative band alignment and passivate surface defects, a well-known drawback of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites, that is responsible for most of the issues hampering the long-term performances. Reducing the thickness of such salt-based insulating layer might be beneficial in terms of charge transfer between the perovskite and the electron/hole transport layers. In this context, here we apply density functional theory (DFT) to characterize the structure and the electronic features of atom-thin layers of NaCl adsorbed on the methylammonium lead iodide (MAPI) perovskite. We analyze two different models of MAPI surface terminations and find unexpected structural reconstructions arising at the interface. Unexpectedly, we find an exotic honeycomb-like structuring of the salt, also recently observed in experiments on a diamond substrate. We also investigate how the salt affects the perovskite electronic properties that are key to control the charge dynamics at the interface. Moreover, we also assess the salt ability to improve the defect tolerance of the perovskite surface. With these results, we derive new hints regarding the potential benefits of using an atom-thin layer of alkali halides in PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Pecoraro
- Department of Physics "E. Pancini", University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
- INSTM-GISEL, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Florence, Italy.
| | - Ana B Muñoz-García
- Department of Physics "E. Pancini", University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
- INSTM-GISEL, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Florence, Italy.
| | - Gennaro V Sannino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Portici (NA), Italy
| | - Paola Delli Veneri
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Portici (NA), Italy
| | - Michele Pavone
- INSTM-GISEL, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Florence, Italy.
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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Huang X, Wang L, Liu K, Liao L, Sun H, Wang J, Tian X, Xu Z, Wang W, Liu L, Jiang Y, Chen J, Wang E, Bai X. Tracking cubic ice at molecular resolution. Nature 2023; 617:86-91. [PMID: 36991124 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05864-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Ice is present everywhere on Earth and has an essential role in several areas, such as cloud physics, climate change and cryopreservation. The role of ice is determined by its formation behaviour and associated structure. However, these are not fully understood1. In particular, there is a long-standing debate about whether water can freeze to form cubic ice-a currently undescribed phase in the phase space of ordinary hexagonal ice2-6. The mainstream view inferred from a collection of laboratory data attributes this divergence to the inability to discern cubic ice from stacking-disordered ice-a mixture of cubic and hexagonal sequences7-11. Using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy combined with low-dose imaging, we show here the preferential nucleation of cubic ice at low-temperature interfaces, resulting in two types of separate crystallization of cubic ice and hexagonal ice from water vapour deposition at 102 K. Moreover, we identify a series of cubic-ice defects, including two types of stacking disorder, revealing the structure evolution dynamics supported by molecular dynamics simulations. The realization of direct, real-space imaging of ice formation and its dynamic behaviour at the molecular level provides an opportunity for ice research at the molecular level using transmission electron microscopy, which may be extended to other hydrogen-bonding crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudan Huang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lifen Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, China.
| | - Keyang Liu
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Liao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huacong Sun
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianlin Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuezeng Tian
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi Xu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, China
| | - Wenlong Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, China
| | - Lei Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ji Chen
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Nano-Optoelectronics, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Enge Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, China.
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xuedong Bai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, China.
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4
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Xu Z, Ou Z. Direct Imaging of the Kinetic Crystallization Pathway: Simulation and Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy Observations. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:2026. [PMID: 36903141 PMCID: PMC10004038 DOI: 10.3390/ma16052026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The crystallization of materials from a suspension determines the structure and function of the final product, and numerous pieces of evidence have pointed out that the classical crystallization pathway may not capture the whole picture of the crystallization pathways. However, visualizing the initial nucleation and further growth of a crystal at the nanoscale has been challenging due to the difficulties of imaging individual atoms or nanoparticles during the crystallization process in solution. Recent progress in nanoscale microscopy had tackled this problem by monitoring the dynamic structural evolution of crystallization in a liquid environment. In this review, we summarized several crystallization pathways captured by the liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy technique and compared the observations with computer simulation. Apart from the classical nucleation pathway, we highlight three nonclassical pathways that are both observed in experiments and computer simulations: formation of an amorphous cluster below the critical nucleus size, nucleation of the crystalline phase from an amorphous intermediate, and transition between multiple crystalline structures before achieving the final product. Among these pathways, we also highlight the similarities and differences between the experimental results of the crystallization of single nanocrystals from atoms and the assembly of a colloidal superlattice from a large number of colloidal nanoparticles. By comparing the experimental results with computer simulations, we point out the importance of theory and simulation in developing a mechanistic approach to facilitate the understanding of the crystallization pathway in experimental systems. We also discuss the challenges and future perspectives for investigating the crystallization pathways at the nanoscale with the development of in situ nanoscale imaging techniques and potential applications to the understanding of biomineralization and protein self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangying Xu
- Qian Weichang College, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Zihao Ou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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5
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Raza S, Ghasali E, Orooji Y, Lin H, Karaman C, Dragoi EN, Erk N. Two dimensional (2D) materials and biomaterials for water desalination; structure, properties, and recent advances. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:114998. [PMID: 36481367 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An efficient solution to the global freshwater dilemma is desalination. MXene, Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2), Graphene Oxide, Hexagonal Boron Nitride, and Phosphorene are just a few examples of two-dimensional (2D) materials that have shown considerable promise in the development of 2D materials for water desalination. However, other promising materials for desalinating water are biomaterials. The benefits of bio-materials are their wide distribution, lack of toxicity, and superior capacity for water desalination. METHODS For the rational use of water and the advancement of sustainable development, it is of the utmost importance to research 2D-dimensional materials and biomaterials that are effective for water desalination. The scientific community has concentrated on wastewater remediation using bio-derived materials, such as nanocellulose, chitosan, bio-char, bark, and activated charcoal generated from plant sources, among the various endeavors to enhance access to clean water. Moreover, the 2D-materials and biomaterials may have ushered in a new age in the production of desalination materials and created a promising future. RESULTS The present review article focuses on and reviews the progress of 2D materials and biomaterials for water desalination. Their properties, surface, and structure, combined with water desalination applications, are highlighted. Further, the practicability and potential future directions of 2D materials and biomaterials are proposed. Thus, the current work provides information and discernments for developing novel 2D materials and biomaterials for wastewater desalination. Moreover, it aims to promote the contribution and advancement of materials for water desalination, fabrication, and industrial production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleem Raza
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, PR China; College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Ehsan Ghasali
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, PR China; College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yasin Orooji
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, PR China; College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, PR China.
| | - Hongjun Lin
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, PR China; College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Ceren Karaman
- Departmen of Electricity and Energy, Akdeniz University, Antalya, 07070, Turkey; School of Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
| | - Elena Niculina Dragoi
- "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University, Bld. D. Mangeron No 73, 700050, Iasi, Romania.
| | - Nevin Erk
- Ankara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 06560, Ankara, Turkey
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6
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Abstract
Nucleation and growth are critical steps in crystallization, which plays an important role in determining crystal structure, size, morphology, and purity. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of nucleation and growth is crucial to realize the controllable fabrication of crystalline products with desired and reproducible properties. Based on classical models, the initial crystal nucleus is formed by the spontaneous aggregation of ions, atoms, or molecules, and crystal growth is dependent on the monomer's diffusion and the surface reaction. Recently, numerous in situ investigations on crystallization dynamics have uncovered the existence of nonclassical mechanisms. This review provides a summary and highlights the in situ studies of crystal nucleation and growth, with a particular emphasis on the state-of-the-art research progress since the year 2016, and includes technological advances, atomic-scale observations, substrate- and temperature-dependent nucleation and growth, and the progress achieved in the various materials: metals, alloys, metallic compounds, colloids, and proteins. Finally, the forthcoming opportunities and challenges in this fascinating field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices for Special Environments, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics & Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Electronic Information Materials and Devices, 40-1 South Beijing Road, Urumqi830011, China.,Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Francis Leonard Deepak
- Nanostructured Materials Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Av. Mestre Jose Veiga, 4715-330Braga, Portugal
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7
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Zhao Y, Zhang Q, Ma J, Yi R, Gou L, Nie D, Han X, Zhang L, Wang Y, Xu X, Wang Z, Chen L, Lu Y, Zhang S, Zhang L. Directional growth of quasi-2D Cu2O monocrystals on rGO membranes in aqueous environments. iScience 2022; 25:105472. [DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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8
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Zhao W, Xu WW, Jiang J, Zhao X, Duan X, Sun Y, Francisco JS, Zeng XC. Evidence of Formation of Monolayer Hydrated Salts in Nanopores. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:18976-18985. [PMID: 36197785 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Despite much effort being devoted to the study of ionic aqueous solutions at the nanoscale, our fundamental understanding of the microscopic kinetic and thermodynamic behaviors in these systems remains largely incomplete. Herein, we reported the first 10 μs molecular dynamics simulation, providing evidence of the spontaneous formation of monolayer hexagonal honeycomb hydrated salts of XCl2·6H2O (X = Ba, Sr, Ca, and Mg) from electrolyte aqueous solutions confined in an angstrom-scale slit under ambient conditions. By using both the classical molecular dynamics simulations and the first-principles Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations, we further demonstrated that the hydrated salts were stable not only at ambient temperature but also at elevated temperatures. This phenomenon of formation of hydrated salt in water is contrary to the conventional view. The free energy calculations and dehydration analyses indicated that the spontaneous formation of hydrated salts can be attributed to the interplay between ion hydration and Coulombic attractions in the highly confined water. In addition to providing molecular-level insights into the novel behavior of ionic aqueous solutions at the nanoscale, our findings may have implications for the future exploration of potential existence of water molecules in the saline deposits on hot planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Zhao
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Wen Wu Xu
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States.,Department of Materials Science & Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaorong Zhao
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Xiangmei Duan
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Joseph S Francisco
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Xiao Cheng Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States.,Department of Materials Science & Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
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9
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Zhang Z, Tang Y, Ying Y, Guo J, Gan M, Jiang Y, Xing C, Pan S, Xu M, Zhou Y, Zhang H, Leung CW, Huang H, Mak CL, Fei L. Multistep nucleation visualized during solid-state crystallization. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2022; 9:1670-1678. [PMID: 35470363 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh00174h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms of nucleation have been debated for more than a century, despite successes of classical nucleation theory. The nucleation process has been recently argued as involving a nonclassical mechanism (the "two-step" mechanism) in which an intermediate step occurs before the formation of a nascent ordered phase. However, a thorough understanding of this mechanism, in terms of both microscopic kinetics and thermodynamics, remains experimentally challenging. Here, in situ observations using transmission electron microscopy on a solid-state nucleation case indicate that early-stage crystallization can follow the non-classical pathway, yet proceed via a more complex manner in which multiple metastable states precede the emergence of a stable nucleus. The intermediate steps were sequentially isolated as spinodal decomposition of amorphous precursor, mass transport and structural oscillations between crystalline and amorphous states. Our experimental and theoretical analyses support the idea that the energetic favorability is the driving force for the observed sequence of events. Due to the broad applicability of solid-state crystallization, the findings of this study offer new insights into modern nucleation theory and a potential avenue for materials design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouyang Zhang
- School of Physics and Materials Science, Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Two-Dimensional Materials, Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Functional Thin Films and Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Multiscale Interdisciplinary Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China.
| | - Yujie Tang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Yiran Ying
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Junqing Guo
- School of Physics and Materials Science, Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Two-Dimensional Materials, Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Functional Thin Films and Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Multiscale Interdisciplinary Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China.
| | - Min Gan
- School of Physics and Materials Science, Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Two-Dimensional Materials, Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Functional Thin Films and Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Multiscale Interdisciplinary Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China.
| | - Yateng Jiang
- School of Physics and Materials Science, Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Two-Dimensional Materials, Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Functional Thin Films and Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Multiscale Interdisciplinary Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China.
| | - Chunxian Xing
- School of Physics and Materials Science, Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Two-Dimensional Materials, Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Functional Thin Films and Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Multiscale Interdisciplinary Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Shanshan Pan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yangbo Zhou
- School of Physics and Materials Science, Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Two-Dimensional Materials, Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Functional Thin Films and Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Multiscale Interdisciplinary Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China.
| | - Haitao Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Ionic Liquids Clean Process, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Chi Wah Leung
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Haitao Huang
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Chee Leung Mak
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Linfeng Fei
- School of Physics and Materials Science, Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Two-Dimensional Materials, Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Functional Thin Films and Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Multiscale Interdisciplinary Study, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, China.
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10
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Zhao X, Liu Y, Lin D, Zhu W, Ma N, Xu WW, Zhao W, Sun Y, Zeng XC. Anomalous Phase Behaviors of Monolayer NaCl Aqueous Solutions Induced by Effective Coulombic Interactions within Angstrom-Scale Slits. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:2704-2710. [PMID: 35302778 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c00501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Interests in subnanofluidic devices have called for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies of the thermodynamic behavior of monolayer salt solution within angstrom-scale slits. However, it still remains a grand challenge to accurately describe the Coulombic interactions by incorporating the effects of charge transfer and electronic dielectric screening. Herein, by using the electronic continuum model, where the effective ion charges are fine-tuned with a scaling factor of λ, we present simulation evidence that the effective Coulombic interactions among Na+/Cl- ions can strongly affect the behavior of monolayer ionic aqueous solution. Our microsecond-scale MD simulations show that only the counterions with moderate effective charges (0.3 ≤ λ ≤ 0.8) can dissolve in monolayer water, whereas the high effective charges (λ ≥ 0.85) induce ions to assemble into monolayer nanocrystals, and ions with the low effective charges (λ ≤ 0.2) exhibit gas-like nanobubble. These findings could provide deeper insights into the physical chemistry behind subnanofluidic iontronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Zhao
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Yuying Liu
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Dongdong Lin
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Weiduo Zhu
- Department of Physics, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China
| | - Nan Ma
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Wen Wu Xu
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Wenhui Zhao
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Xiao Cheng Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
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11
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12
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Zhao Y, Zhang Q, Li Y, Chen L, Yi R, Peng B, Nie D, Zhang L, Shi G, Zhang S, Zhang L. Graphitic-like Hexagonal Phase of Alkali Halides in Quasi-Two-Dimensional Confined Space under Ambient Conditions. ACS NANO 2022; 16:2046-2053. [PMID: 35137582 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c07424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of specific matter phases with abnormal physical properties in low-dimensional systems and/or on particular substrates, such as the hexagonal phase of ice and two-dimensional (2D) CaCl with an abnormal valence state, continuously reveals more fundamental mechanisms of the nature. Alkali halides, represented by NaCl, are one of the most common compounds and usually thought to be well-understood. In the past decades, many theoretical studies suggested the existence of one particular phase, that is, the graphitic-like hexagonal phase of alkali halides at high pressure or in low-dimension states, with the expectation of improved properties of this matter phase but lacking experimental evidence due to severe technical challenges. Here, by optimized cryo-electron microscopy, we report the direct atomic-resolution observation and in situ characterization of the prevalent and stable graphitic-like alkali halide hexagonal phases, which were spontaneously formed by unsaturated NaCl and LiCl solution, respectively, in the quasi-2D confined space between reduced graphene oxide layers under ambient conditions. Combined with a control experiment, density functional theory calculations, and previous theoretical studies, we believe that a delicate balance among the cation-π interaction of the solute and substrate, electrostatic interactions of anions and cations, solute-solvent interactions, and thermodynamics under confinement synergistically results in the formation of such hexagonal crystalline phases. These findings highlight the effects of the substrate and the confined space on the formation of specific matter phases and provide a universal scheme for the preparation of special graphitic-like hexagonal phases of alkali halides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Yunzhang Li
- Shanghai Applied Radiation Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Liang Chen
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- Department of Optical Engineering, Zhejiang Prov Key Lab Carbon Cycling Forest Ecosy, Zhejiang Prov Key Lab of Chemical Utilization of Forestry Biomass, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an 311300, China
| | - Ruobing Yi
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
- Department of Optical Engineering, Zhejiang Prov Key Lab Carbon Cycling Forest Ecosy, Zhejiang Prov Key Lab of Chemical Utilization of Forestry Biomass, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an 311300, China
| | - Bingquan Peng
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Dexi Nie
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Lihao Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Guosheng Shi
- Shanghai Applied Radiation Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Shengli Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
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Cox SJ, Geissler PL. Dielectric response of thin water films: a thermodynamic perspective. Chem Sci 2022; 13:9102-9111. [PMID: 36091210 PMCID: PMC9365083 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01243j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface of a polar liquid presents a special environment for the solvation and organization of charged solutes, which differ from bulk behaviors in important ways. These differences have motivated many attempts to understand electrostatic response at aqueous interfaces in terms of a spatially varying dielectric permittivity, typically concluding that the dielectric constant of interfacial water is significantly lower than in the bulk liquid. Such analyses, however, are complicated by the potentially nonlocal nature of dielectric response over the short length scales of interfacial heterogeneity. Here we circumvent this problem for thin water films by adopting a thermodynamic approach. Using molecular simulations, we calculate the solvent's contribution to the reversible work of charging a parallel plate capacitor. We find good agreement with a simple dielectric continuum model that assumes bulk dielectric permittivity all the way up to the liquid's boundary, even for very thin (∼1 nm) films. This comparison requires careful attention to the placement of dielectric boundaries between liquid and vapor, which also resolves apparent discrepancies with dielectric imaging experiments. Free energy calculations from molecular simulations reveal that water's interfacial dielectric response is well-described by bulk properties.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J. Cox
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Phillip L. Geissler
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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14
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Zhou K, Jiao S, Chen Y, Qin H, Liu Y. Reduced Ionic Conductivity but Enhanced Local Ionic Conductivity in Nanochannels. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:12577-12585. [PMID: 34672598 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c01876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The ionic transport in nanoscale channels with the critical size comparable to ions and solvents shows excellent performance on electrochemical desalination, ion separation, and supercapacitors. However, the key quantity ionic conductivity (σ) in the nanochannel that evaluates how easily the electric current is driven by an external voltage is still unknown because of the challenges in experimental measurement. In this work, we present an atomistic simulation-based study, which shows that how the ion concentration, nanoconfinement, and heterogeneous solvation modify the ionic conductivity in a two-dimensional graphene nanochannel. We find that σ in the confined channel is lower than that in the bulk (σb) at the same concentration along with enhanced ion-ion correlation. However, surprisingly, the local σ near the channel wall is more conductive than σb and is about 2-3 folds of the inner layer due to the highly concentrated charge carriers. Based on the layered feature of σ along the width of the channel, we propose a model that contains two dead (or depletion) layers, two highly conductive layers, and one inner layer to describe the ionic dynamics in the nanochannels. Our findings may open the way to unique nanofluidic functionalities, such as energy harvesting/storage and controlling transport at single-molecule and ion levels using the liquid layer near the wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhou
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, SV LAB, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Shuping Jiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mechanics in Energy Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, School of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, SV LAB, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Huasong Qin
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, SV LAB, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Yilun Liu
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, SV LAB, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
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15
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Zhao W, Sun Y, Zhu W, Jiang J, Zhao X, Lin D, Xu W, Duan X, Francisco JS, Zeng XC. Two-dimensional monolayer salt nanostructures can spontaneously aggregate rather than dissolve in dilute aqueous solutions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5602. [PMID: 34556665 PMCID: PMC8460741 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25938-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that NaCl salt crystals can easily dissolve in dilute aqueous solutions at room temperature. Herein, we reported the first computational evidence of a novel salt nucleation behavior at room temperature, i.e., the spontaneous formation of two-dimensional (2D) alkali chloride crystalline/non-crystalline nanostructures in dilute aqueous solution under nanoscale confinement. Microsecond-scale classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that NaCl or LiCl, initially fully dissolved in confined water, can spontaneously nucleate into 2D monolayer nanostructures with either ordered or disordered morphologies. Notably, the NaCl nanostructures exhibited a 2D crystalline square-unit pattern, whereas the LiCl nanostructures adopted non-crystalline 2D hexagonal ring and/or zigzag chain patterns. These structural patterns appeared to be quite generic, regardless of the water and ion models used in the MD simulations. The generic patterns formed by 2D monolayer NaCl and LiCl nanostructures were also confirmed by ab initio MD simulations. The formation of 2D salt structures in dilute aqueous solution at room temperature is counterintuitive. Free energy calculations indicated that the unexpected spontaneous salt nucleation behavior can be attributed to the nanoscale confinement and strongly compressed hydration shells of ions. Aqueous solutions under nanoscale confinement exhibit interesting physicochemical properties. This work reports evidence on the spontaneous formation of two-dimensional alkali chloride crystalline/non-crystalline nanostructures in dilute aqueous solution under nanoscale confinement by computer simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Zhao
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Weiduo Zhu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Xiaorong Zhao
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Dongdong Lin
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Wenwu Xu
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Xiangmei Duan
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Joseph S Francisco
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Xiao Cheng Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA. .,Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
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