Water Nanodroplet on a Hydrocarbon "Carpet"-The Mechanism of Water Contact Angle Stabilization by Airborne Contaminations on Graphene, Au, and PTFE Surfaces.

Wetting is very common phenomenon, and it is well documented that the wettability of a solid depends on the surface density of adsorbed airborne hydrocarbons. This "hydrocarbon hypothesis" has been experimentally confirmed for different surfaces, for example, graphene, TiO2, and SiO2; however, there are no scientific reports describing the influence of airborne contaminants on the water contact angle (WCA) value measured on the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surface. Using experimental data showing the influence of airborne hydrocarbons on the wettability of graphene, gold and PTFE by water, together with Molecular Dynamics simulation results we prove that the relation between the WCA and the surface concentration of hydrocarbons ( n-decane, n-tridecane, and n-tetracosane) is more complex than has been assumed up until now. We show, in contrast to commonly approved opinion, that adsorbed hydrocarbons can increase (graphene, Au) or decrease (PTFE) the WCA of a nanodroplet sitting on a surface. Using classical thermodynamics, a simple theoretical approach is developed. It is based on two adsorbed hydrocarbon states, namely, "carpet" and "dimple". In the "carpet" state a uniform layer of alkane molecules covers the entire substrate. In contrast, in the "dimple" state, the preadsorbed layer of alkane molecules covers only the open surface. Simple thermodynamic balance between the two states explains observed experimental and simulation results, forming a good starting point for future studies.

Dynamics of effusive and diffusive gas separation on pillared graphene.

Pillared graphene structures, from a practical viewpoint, are very interesting novel carbon materials. Combining the properties of graphene and nanotubes, such as durability, chemical purity and a controlled structure, they were proven to be effective membranes for noble gas separation processes. Here, we examine their possible use for other, more commercially useful gas mixture separation, i.e. air and coal gas. The mechanism of air gas transport through the pillar channels is studied, and the prospective application of 2-D pillared membranes in effusion-like processes provided. The separative abilities of hybrid systems consisting of membranes with different channel diameters in relation to coal gas are proven to be promising.

Pillared graphene as a gas separation membrane.

Graphene and carbon nanotubes are considered as future materials in various fields, including adsorption, accumulation and separation processes, and so are hybrid materials combining their properties. This paper reports our study on separative abilities of 3-D network structures consisting of graphene planes pillared with nanotube fragments. Results of molecular dynamics simulations confirm that such materials can be successfully applied as membranes in relation to noble gas mixtures. A simple explanation of the mechanism underlying the process is proposed.

Phenol adsorption on closed carbon nanotubes.

We present the results of systematic studies of phenol adsorption on closed commercially available, unmodified carbon nanotubes. Phenol adsorption is determined by the value of tube-specific surface area, the presence of small amount of surface groups influence adsorption only in very small amount. Phenol can be applied as a probe molecule for comparative analysis of tube surface areas. Tube curvature influences adsorption from solution, i.e., we observe increasing adsorption energy (and slower desorption process) with the decrease in tube curvature. This is in full accordance with molecular simulation results.

Molecular dynamics of zigzag single walled carbon nanotube immersion in water.

The results of enthalpy of immersion in water for finite single-walled carbon nanotubes are reported. Using molecular dynamics simulation, we discuss the relation between the value of this enthalpy and tube diameters showing that the obtained plot can be divided into three regions. The structure of water inside tubes in all three regions is discussed and it is shown that the existence of the strong maximum of enthalpy observed for tube diameter ca. 1.17 nm is due to freezing of water under confinement. The calculations of hydrogen bond statistics and water density profiles inside tubes are additionally reported to confirm the obtained results. Next, we show the results of calculation for the same tubes but containing surface carbonyl oxygen groups at pore entrances. A remarkable rise in the value of enthalpy of immersion in comparison to the initial tubes is observed. We also discuss the influence of charge distribution between oxygen and carbon atom forming surface carbonyls on the structure of confined water. It is concluded for the first time that the presence of surface oxygen atoms at the pore entrances remarkably influences the structure and stability of ice created inside nanotubes, and surface carbonyls appear to be chaotropic (i.e. structure breaking) for confined water. This effect is explained by the pore blocking leading to a decrease (compared to initial structure) in the number of confined water molecules after introduction of surface oxygen groups at pore entrances.

Activated carbon immersed in water-the origin of linear correlation between enthalpy of immersion and oxygen content studied by molecular dynamics simulation.

First Molecular Dynamics simulation results of activated carbon immersion in water are reported. Using a Virtual Porous Carbon Model of "soft" carbon the influence of surface oxygen content, distribution of groups and micropore diameter on the enthalpy of immersion is studied. The empirical relation between enthalpy and concentration of surface groups (as well as polar surface area) is reproduced by molecular simulation results. It is shown that for strongly hydrophobic carbons immersed in water, the water-vapour interface inside pores appears. This interface vanishes with the rise in content of surface oxygen. We discuss some nuances of the interfacial region using proximal distribution functions and hydrogen bonds statistics. Finally we conclude that the mechanism of immersion process is in accordance with Pratt-Chandler theory of hydrophobic interactions.

Molecular dynamics simulation insight into the mechanism of phenol adsorption at low coverages from aqueous solutions on microporous carbons.

MD simulation studies showing the influence of porosity and carbon surface oxidation on phenol adsorption from aqueous solutions on carbons are reported. Based on a realistic model of activated carbon, three carbon structures with gradually changed microporosity were created. Next, a different number of surface oxygen groups was introduced. The pores with diameters around 0.6 nm are optimal for phenol adsorption and after the introduction of surface oxygen functionalities, adsorption of phenol decreases (in accordance with experimental data) for all studied models. This decrease is caused by a pore blocking effect due to the saturation of surface oxygen groups by highly hydrogen-bounded water molecules.

Adsorption from aqueous solutions on opened carbon nanotubes--organic compounds speed up delivery of water from inside.

We report the results of first systematic studies of organic adsorption from aqueous solutions onto relatively long single walled carbon nanotubes (four tubes, in initial and oxidised forms). Using molecular dynamics simulations (GROMACS package) we discuss the behaviour of tube-water as well as tube-adsorbate systems, for three different adsorbates (benzene, phenol and paracetamol).

Ar, CCl(4) and C(6)H(6) adsorption outside and inside of the bundles of multi-walled carbon nanotubes-simulation study.

This is the first paper reporting the results of systematic study of the adsorption of Ar, C(6)H(6) and CCl(4) on the bundles of closed and opened multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Using grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we also study the effect of the introducing defects in the external and internal walls of osculating and separated nanotubes on Ar diffusion and on adsorption of all three adsorbates. The Ar diffusion coefficients obtained are very sensitive to the presence of defects. Simulated isotherms are discussed to show the relation between the shapes of the high resolution alpha(s)-plots and the mechanisms of adsorption. From obtained data, as well as from geometric considerations, from the VEGA ZZ package, and from simulations (ASA), the values of surface areas of all nanotubes are calculated and compared with those obtained using the most popular adsorption methods (BET, alpha(s) and the A,B,C-points). We show that the adsorption value for the C-point of the isotherm should be taken for the calculation of the specific surface area of carbon nanotubes to obtain a value which approaches the absolute geometric surface area. A fully packed monolayer is not created at the A-, B- or C-points of the isotherm; however, the number of molecules adsorbed at the latter point is closest to the number of molecules in the monolayer as calculated via the ASA method, the VEGA ZZ package or from geometric considerations.

Heterogeneous Do-Do model of water adsorption on carbons.

The model of water adsorption on carbons proposed five years ago by Do and Do is analyzed and improved. Following the experimental evidence that for activated carbons surface active groups differ in the value of the energy of interaction with water molecules, we propose to extend the original model to take this fundamental feature into account. For the original DD model, as well as proposed new heterogeneous one (HDDM), we develop also the corresponding isosteric enthalpy of adsorption formulas. The features of the HDDM are studied via simulations. It is shown that the new model predicts the shapes of adsorption isotherm as well as corresponding enthalpy observed for real experimental systems. Finally, the HDDM is successfully applied to description of arbitrarily chosen adsorption and enthalpy of adsorption data. Up to our knowledge, HDDM is the first model describing satisfactorily water adsorption isotherms and corresponding enthalpy data measured on different microporous activated carbons in the whole relative pressure range.