The surface chemistry of sapphire-c: A literature review and a study on various factors influencing its IEP.

A wide range of isoelectric points (IEPs) has been reported in the literature for sapphire-c (α-alumina), also referred to as basal plane, (001) or (0001), single crystals. Interestingly, the available data suggest that the variation of IEPs is comparable to the range of IEPs encountered for particles, although single crystals should be much better defined in terms of surface structure. One explanation for the range of IEPs might be the obvious danger of contaminating the small surface areas of single crystal samples while exposing them to comparatively large solution reservoirs.

Potentiometric and electrokinetic signatures of iron(II) interactions with (α,γ)-Fe2O3.

The electrochemical signatures of Fe(II) interactions with iron(III) oxides are poorly understood, despite their importance in controlling the amount of mobilized iron. Here, we report the potentiometric titration of α,γ-Fe2O3 oxides exposed to Fe(II) ions. We monitored in situ surface and ζ potentials, the ratio of mobilized ferric to ferrous, and the periodically analyzed nanoparticle crystal structure using X-ray diffraction.

Structure-charge relationship - the case of hematite (001).

We present a multidisciplinary study on the hematite (001)-aqueous solution interface, in particular the relationship between surface structure (studied via surface diffraction in a humid atmosphere) and the macroscopic charging (studied via surface- and zeta-potential measurements in electrolyte solutions as a function of pH). Upon aging in water changes in the surface structure are observed, that are accompanied by drastic changes in the zeta-potential. Surprisingly the surface potential is not accordingly affected.

Surface and zeta-potentials of silver halide single crystals: pH-dependence in comparison to particle systems.

We have carried out surface and zeta-potential measurements on AgCl and AgBr single crystals. As for particle systems we find that, surprisingly and previously unnoted, the zeta-potential exhibits pH-dependence, while the surface potential does not. A possible interpretation of these observations is the involvement of water ions in the interfacial equilibria and in particular, stronger affinity of the hydroxide ion compared to the proton.

pH and the surface tension of water.

Despite the strong adsorption of hydroxide ions, the surface tension of water is almost independent of pH between pH 1 and 13 when the pH is adjusted by addition of HCl or NaOH. This is consistent with the Gibbs adsorption isotherm which measures the surface excess of all species in the double layer, if hydronium ions and hydroxide ions are adsorbed and sodium and chloride ions are not. The surface tension becomes pH dependent around pH 7 in millimolar NaCl or KCl solutions, for now sodium ions can replace hydronium ions as counterions to the adsorbed hydroxide ions.

Effect of surface site interactions on potentiometric titration of hematite (α-Fe2O3) crystal faces.

Time dependent potentiometric pH titrations were used to study the effect of atomic scale surface structure on the protonation behavior of the structurally well-defined hematite/electrolyte interfaces. Our recently proposed thermodynamic model [1,25] was applied to measured acidimetric and alkalimetric titration hysteresis loops, collected from highly organized (001), (012), and (113) crystal face terminations using pH equilibration times ranging from 15 to 30 min. Hysteresis loop areas indicate that (001) faces equilibrate faster than the (012) and (113) faces, consistent with the different expected ensembles of singly-, doubly-, and triply-coordinated surface sites on each face.

Influence of interfacial water layer on surface properties of silver halides: effect of pH on the isoelectric point.

The hypothesis that pH dependent charge of interfacial water affects electrokinetic charge and electrokinetic potential of hydrophobic colloids, but not the (inner) surface potential was tested. It was found that isoelectric points of silver chloride, bromide and iodide shift to the higher pAg values in the acidic solutions, but that surface potential did not depend on pH. Isoelectric points of water at inert surfaces lie in the range 2 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Point of zero potential of single-crystal electrode/inert electrolyte interface.

Most of the environmentally important processes occur at the specific hydrated mineral faces. Their rates and mechanisms are in part controlled by the interfacial electrostatics, which can be quantitatively described by the point of zero potential (PZP). Unfortunately, the PZP value of specific crystal face is very difficult to be experimentally determined.

Electrostatic potential of specific mineral faces.

Reaction rates of environmental processes occurring at hydrated mineral surfaces are in part controlled by the electrostatic potential that develops at the interface. This potential depends on the structure of exposed crystal faces as well as the pH and the type of ions and their interactions with these faces. Despite its importance, experimental methods for determining fundamental electrostatic properties of specific crystal faces such as the point of zero charge are few.

Characterization of acid-base properties of two gibbsite samples in the context of literature results.

Two different gibbsites, one commercial and one synthesized according to a frequently applied recipe, were studied in an interlaboratory attempt to gain insight into the origin of widely differing reports on gibbsite acid-base surface properties. In addition to a thorough characterization of the two solids, several methods relevant to the interfacial charging were applied to the two samples: potentiometric titrations to obtain the "apparent" proton related surface charge density, zeta-potential measurements characterizing the potential at the plane of shear, and Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-IR) to obtain information on the variation of counter-ion adsorption with pH (using nitrate as a probe). Values of the IEP at 9-10 and 11.

Charging of silver bromide aqueous interface: Evaluation of enthalpy and entropy of interfacial reactions from surface potential data.

Dependence of surface potential (electrostatic potential at the inner Helmholtz plane, Ψ(0)) at the silver bromide aqueous electrolyte interface was measured as a function of the activities of Br(-) and Ag(+) by using a single crystal silver bromide electrode (SCr-AgBr). Absolute values of surface potentials were obtained from electrode potentials of SCr-AgBr and isoelectric points. Measurements were performed at different temperatures in the range from 10 to 50°C.

Differences between reversible (self-association) and irreversible aggregation of rHuG-CSF in carbohydrate and polyol formulations.

Severe immunogenic and other debilitating human disorders potentially induced by protein aggregates have brought this phenomenon into the focus of biopharmaceutical science over the past decade. Depending on its driving forces, the process induced in the model protein rHuG-CSF may be either reversible or irreversible, resulting in the assembly of self-associated protein species or irreversible aggregates of various final morphologies. The aim of our work was to investigate the correlation between irreversible and reversible aggregation and the protective effect of non-specific formulation stabilisers, selected from the group of carbohydrates and polyols including trehalose, xylitol, cellobiitol, turanose, cellobiose, leucrose, lactitol, lyxose, and sorbitol, against both irreversible protein aggregation and reversible self-association processes of the rHuG-CSF.

Sorption of Eu(III) onto titanium dioxide: measurements and modeling.

In the present study, the sorption of europium and lutetium onto titanium dioxide from aqueous solutions is presented, as a function of pH, ionic strength and concentration. An acid base model for the titanium dioxide surface was determined from potentiometric titrations and zeta-potential measurements. The common intersection point of potentiometric titrations coincided with the isoelectric point from electrokinetic experiments, resulting in a pristine point of zero charge of about 6.

An attempt to explain bimodal behaviour of the sapphire c-plane electrolyte interface.

A tentative picture for the charging of the sapphire basal plane in dilute electrolyte solutions allows reconciliation of the available experimental observations within a dual charging model. It includes the MUltiSIte Complexation (MUSIC) model and auto-protolysis of interfacial water. The semi-empirical MUSIC model predicts protonation and deprotonation constants of individual surface functional groups based on crystal structure and bond-valence principles: on the ideal sapphire c-plane only doubly co-ordinated hydroxyl groups exist which cause quasi zero surface potential (defined as the potential in the plane of the surface hydroxyl groups) from pH 5 to 7 and rather weak charging beyond (compared to typical oxide behaviour).

Charging of silver bromide aqueous interface: evaluation of interfacial equilibrium constants from surface potential data.

A single crystal silver bromide electrode (SCr-AgBr) was used to measure the inner surface potential (Ψ(0)) at the silver bromide aqueous electrolyte interface as a function of the activities of Br(-) and Ag(+). Absolute values of the surface potential were calculated from electrode potentials of SCr-AgBr using the value of point of zero charge (pBr(pzc)=6.9 [H.

Evaluation of interfacial equilibrium constants from surface potential data: silver chloride aqueous interface.

A single crystal silver chloride electrode (SCr-AgCl) was used to measure the inner surface potential (Psi(0)) at the silver chloride aqueous electrolyte interface as a function of activity of Cl(-) ions as determined by the Ag/AgCl electrode. Absolute values of the surface potential were calculated from electrode potentials of SCr-AgCl using the value of point of zero charge (pCl(pzc)=5.2) as the value of point of zero potential.

Measurement of surface potential at silver chloride aqueous interface with single-crystal AgCl electrode.

The surface potential at the silver chloride aqueous interface was measured by means of a single-crystal silver chloride electrode (SCr-AgCl). The measurements were conducted by titration of the KCl solution with AgNO3, and vice versa. The SCr-AgCl electrode potentials were converted to surface potentials psi(0) by setting zero at the point of zero charge at pCl = 5.

A macroscopic water structure based model for describing charging phenomena at inert hydrophobic surfaces in aqueous electrolyte solutions.

A simple general model framework for the charge development at hydrophobic surfaces in aqueous electrolyte solutions is proposed. It is based on the idea of enhanced autolysis of interfacial water triggered by a structured layer of water. The model is applied to experimental data for air, oil, diamond and Teflon aqueous interfaces and to the ice-water interface.

Measurement of the surface potential of individual crystal planes of hematite.

A device for measuring surface potentials of individual crystal planes was constructed. The surface potentials of the (0 1 2), (1 0 -2), (1 1 3), and (1 1 -3) crystal planes of hematite were measured as a function of pH at different sodium nitrate concentrations. Results of measurement enabled differentiation between the planes, showing agreement with the surface potentials obtained with a single-crystal hematite electrode.

Determination of surface potentials from the electrode potentials of a single-crystal electrode.

Determination of surface potentials Psi0 at the metal oxide/aqueous solution interface from measured electrode potentials of a metal oxide single-crystal electrode (SCrE) is described. The proposed method is based on the surface complexation model and evaluates the surface potential at the isoelectric point, i.e.

Surface potential of hematite in aqueous electrolyte solution: hysteresis and equilibration at the interface.

Electrostatic potential at the inner plane of the hematite aqueous interface, i.e., surface potential, was measured by means of a single-crystal hematite electrode.

Electrostatic Contribution to the Enthalpy of Charging at Hematite/Electrolyte Interface.

A calorimetry study of hematite surface reactions is reported, with special emphasis on the estimation of the electrostatic contribution to the enthalpy of charging. The calorimetry titrations were performed outside the point of zero charge region where the electrostatic contribution is significant. The results were interpreted by the surface complexation model.