Quartz/aqueous solution interfaces are ubiquitous in nature, but in many respects remain enigmatic. Our group (among others) has focused a variety of experimental and computational techniques on this important interface in order to clarify its structure and properties. These methods include resonant x-ray reflectivity, SHG spectroscopy, flow calorimetry, surface charge titrations, and ab initio as well as classical molecular dynamics simulations. Unlike certain other oxide interfaces studied by our group (e.g., rutile, anatase, cassiterite), the connection between microscopic and macroscopic results is less clear for quartz in part because the vast majority of surface charge and ion sorption studies have utilized either amorphous silica or natural quartz samples that were crushed/milled in order to obtain sufficient surface area. This presentation will summarize pertinent microscopic information about the quartz/aqueous solution interface from the perspective of rationalizing available macroscopic results.

Quartz/aqueous solution interface-a microscopic to macroscopic perspective

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.