Layered minerals have shown promise in energy conversion technologies, in addition to their important roles in environmental and geochemical processes. In particular, some naturally occurring manganese oxides have been shown to exhibit promising energy conversion and catalytic properties. Despite the importance of these transition metal oxides, little is known regarding the molecular details governing chemical reactivity at their solid-liquid interfaces. In this talk, I will discuss unique properties of water confined between two-dimensional sheets of the layered phase of manganese dioxide known as birnessite. I will then describe how the hydration environment impacts solvent fluctuations that control electron transfer reactions. Coupling between interfacial ordering and confinement results in unique solution structures with analogies to classic descriptions of magnetic systems, and this analogy is extended to demonstrate the generality of our findings through the development of simple models. Experimental verifications of these findings will be discussed, and strategies for using the understanding of this mineral-fluid interface to inform the design of catalysts and energy storage systems will also be suggested. I will also discuss the complex dynamics surrounding chemical reactions in this system, knowledge of which is crucial to completely understand chemistry in this and similar nano-confined systems.<br/>

Confinement-induced solvent effects on electron transfer reactions at water-mineral interfaces

256th National Meeting (2018)

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