Interfaces in solution are ubiquitous and govern many important processes in a variety of areas in science including water purification. Examining how molecules adsorb to the surface of microplastics can provide crucial information for understanding their role in marine pollution. Further, developing an understanding of the processes of ion and molecule adsorption to interfaces important for water filtration can help in the fabrication of better filtration systems. Nonlinear spectroscopy techniques, notably Second Harmonic Scattering Spectroscopy (SHS) is utilized to study these surfaces in colloidal solutions. The Gibbs-free energies of adsorption of different relevant ions and molecules to a variety of surfaces are determined to develop a general picture of the adsorption processes occurring at these surfaces. Improvements to the SHS setup that allow for angle-resolved measurements and automation of data collection will be discussed. Scattering patterns that track the intensity of the scattered second harmonic signal as a function of detection angle can provide insight into the size, shape, and molecular orientation of adsorbing species. This information can be used to infer the dominate molecular interactions present at these interfaces.

Investigating adsorption to surfaces in solution: Applications to microplastics and water filtration systems

ACS Spring 2022

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