Although many environmental processes depend on solvent interactions at mineral/water interfaces, our fundamental understanding is still evolving.  For example, while aqueous ionic strength influences silica surface charge and dissolution, the role of solvent in these processes is unclear.   In-situ vibrational Sum-Frequency Generation (vSFG) spectroscopy and dynamics of water/silica interfaces at various pH and ionic strengths reveal that the impact of ions on interfacial water strongly depends on pH.  The effect of salt on vSFG is strongest at near neutral pH, correlating with the effect of salt on silica surface charge and dissolution described by the 'surface charge sensitivity' model.  vSFG provides experimental evidence for the critical role of interfacial water arrangement on chemical reactivity at the solid-liquid  interface.

Effect of salt and pH on the water/silica interface

245th National Meeting (2013)

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