Ion adsorption, hydration and specific ion effects at mineral electrolyte interfaces

Description

Ions adsorbing to solid surfaces immersed in aqueous electrolytes have an important impact on the physical and chemical properties of the resulting solid-liquid interface. They affect the local surface charge, the structure of the adjacent electric double layer, and the hydration structure of the interface. These microscopic processes at the interface have a tremendous effect on macroscopic phenomena such as the wettability and chemical reactivity of the system.
In this lecture, I will illustrate the capabilities of high resolution Atomic Force Microscopy and spectroscopy to characterize the interfaces of various minerals (mica, silica, gibbsite) with aqueous electrolytes of variable composition. In particular, I will focus on the adsorption of mono- and divalent alkali and earth alkali cations to mica and gibbsite surfaces and illustrate the complexity of ion specific adsorption and hydration processes that contribute to the macroscopic properties of electric double layers and the accompanying interfacial water. Finally, I will show a brief example to illustrate how these processes affect the macroscopic wettability of the electrolyte on the mica surface in ambient oil and – time permitting – the photodeposition of metals onto semiconductor surfaces

Period	9 Nov 2018
Event title	Dutch SPM Day 2018
Event type	Conference
Location	Utrecht, Netherlands
Degree of Recognition	National