Surface energy is critical to the modeling of many interfacial processes (e.g., adsorption and adhesion). Therefore, accurately measuring surface energy carries significant theoretical and practical implications. Graphite have long been believed to be a model low energy (i.e., nonpolar) surface. However, our recent work showed that a clean graphitic surfaces are in fact mildly hydrophilic. The previously observed hydrophobicity is caused by adsorption of airborne hydrocarbon contamination. We show that the commonly accepted surface energy of graphite underestimates graphite-water interaction by ca. 25%. Our result suggests a revisit of many surface properties of graphitic materials.

Intrinsic surface energy of graphite

251st National Meeting (2016)

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