Organothiol Monolayer Formation Directly on Muscovite Mica.

Organothiol monolayers on metal substrates (Au, Ag, Cu) and their use in a wide variety of applications have been extensively studied. Here, the growth of layers of organothiols directly onto muscovite mica is demonstrated using a simple procedure. Atomic force microscopy, surface X-ray diffraction, and vibrational sum-frequency generation IR spectroscopy studies revealed that organothiols with various functional endgroups could be self-assembled into (water) stable and adaptable ultra-flat organothiol monolayers over homogenous areas as large as 1 cm .

Monovalent - divalent cation competition at the muscovite mica surface: Experiment and theory.

Hypothesis: Ion adsorption on mineral surfaces depends on several factors, such as the mineral surface structure and the valency, size and hydration of the ion. In order to understand competitive adsorption at mineral surfaces, experimental techniques are required that can probe multiple ionic species at the same time. By comparing adsorption of two different cations, it should be possible to derive the factors governing ion adsorption.

Additive Induced Formation of Ultrathin Sodium Chloride Needle Crystals.

A multitude of ultrathin crystal needles are formed during the evaporation of saturated aqueous NaCl solution droplets in the presence of amide containing additives. The needles are as small as 300 nm wide and 100-1000 μm in length. Heating experiments, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the needles are cubic sodium chloride crystals with the needle length direction pointing toward [100].

The structure of PbCl on the {100} surface of NaCl and its consequences for crystal growth.

The role that additives play in the growth of sodium chloride is a topic which has been widely researched but not always fully understood at an atomic level. Lead chloride (PbCl) is one such additive which has been reported to have growth inhibition effects on NaCl {100} and {111}; however, no definitive evidence has been reported which details the mechanism of this interaction. In this investigation, we used the technique of surface x-ray diffraction to determine the interaction between PbCl and NaCl {100} and the structure at the surface.

Concentration-Dependent Adsorption of CsI at the Muscovite-Electrolyte Interface.

The interfacial structure of muscovite in contact with aqueous CsI solutions was measured using surface X-ray diffraction for several CsI concentrations (2-1000 mM). At CsI concentrations up to 200 mM, Cs adsorption is likely hindered by HO, as both cations compete for the adsorption site above the muscovite hexagonal cavity. Above this concentration, more Cs adsorbs than is required to compensate the negatively charged muscovite surface, which means that coadsorption of an anion takes place.

Additive Enhanced Creeping of Sodium Chloride Crystals.

This article investigates the mechanism behind the creeping of sodium chloride induced by additives. Here, an experimental approach is complemented with theoretical considerations to describe how creeping patterns of brine evolve and how the introduction of additives into the solution affects the morphology of the resultant crystals. We have found that these additives cause kinetic roughening and morphological instability mainly due to the reduction of surface free energy.