Interfacial layering of hydrocarbons on pristine graphite surfaces immersed in water

Abstract

Atomic-scale imaging of liquid water on graphitic surfaces.

Interfacial Liquid Water on Graphite, Graphene, and 2D Materials

“…3D AFM images showed that the interfacial water structure was characterized by interlayer distances in the 0.3 nm range. That value was in agreement with the distance between the first and the second peak of the water density profile predicted by MD simulations on graphene or graphite surfaces. ,, Additional 3D AFM experiments involving larger volumes of water also showed interlayer distances consistent with the presence of hydration layers . Furthermore, it coincided with the values reported by an early X-ray reflectivity measurement .…”

“…A large number of 3D AFM images were obtained on graphite, graphene, and few-layer TMDCs surfaces immersed in water. Those images showed an interfacial water structure characterized by the presence up to three solvation layers parallel to the graphite surface. ,,,− The separation between the layers was 0.5 nm (average value). This value was about 0.2 nm larger than the one expected for hydration layers (0.3 nm).…”

“…Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of both natural and human origin are present in air. − They might be generated from polymeric materials, fossil fuel combustion, or human breadth . The most common VOCs are hydrocarbons with typical per-species concentrations of less than 50 μgm –3 or equivalently ≤10 ppb. − However, the very low concentration of VOCs might be offset by their high affinity to graphite-like surfaces − and, in particular, to the graphite–water interface . VOCs adsorbed on graphite-like surfaces are called airborne contaminants.…”

“…(b) Free energy for transfer of alkanes from air to overlayers at the graphite–water interface, as calculated from MD simulations. Reprinted with permission from ref . Copyright 2021 Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

“…The interaction of liquid water with graphite-like and 2D materials has generated scientific topics, among them, the wetting transparency of graphene, − ,− the water-flow in nanofluidic channels and nanopores, ,− or the ubiquitous presence of organic adsorbates at the graphite–liquid-water interface. ,− ,− …”