Molecular interaction forces at solid-electrolyte interfaces: insights from AFM spectroscopy

Description

Numerous processes in science and technology are controlled by molecular interaction forces, charge distribution, and hydration structure at solid-electrolyte interfaces, including fundamental aspects of colloidal self-assembly and aggregation as well as the efficiency of photo- and electrocatalysts.
In this lecture, I will give an overview over insights gained from in situ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements on the structure of the electric double layer and the resulting nano-scale interaction forces. I will discuss aspects of ion adsorption [1], hydration[2], and electrostatic forces for a variety of systems ranging from minerals to semi-conducting nanoparticles. Specific systems and phenomena to be discussed will include anomalous underscreening in highly concentrated salt solutions[3], acid- and additive-specific mineral dissolution (olivine), as well as the potential of operando-AFM for the characterization of photocatalytically active materials such as SrTiO3 [4] and BiVO4 [5].



1. Siretanu, I., et al., Direct observation of ionic structure at solid-liquid interfaces: a deep look into the Stern Layer. Scientific Reports, 2014. 4.
2. van Lin, S.R., et al., Ion-Specific and pH-Dependent Hydration of Mica-Electrolyte Interfaces. Langmuir, 2019. 35(17): p. 5737-5745.
3. Kumar, S., et al., Absence of anomalous underscreening in highly concentrated aqueous electrolytes confined between smooth silica surfaces. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2022. 622: p. 819-827.
4. Su, S.Q., et al., Facet-Dependent Surface Charge and Hydration of Semiconducting Nanoparticles at Variable pH. Advanced Materials, 2021. 33(52).
5. Su, S.Q., et al., Nanometer-Resolved Operando Photo-Response of Faceted BiVO4 Semiconductor Nanoparticles. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2024. 146(3): p. 2248-2256.

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Period	7 Nov 2025
Event title	Physical Chemistry Colloquium 2025
Event type	Seminar
Location	Sydney, AustraliaShow on map