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Adsorption of Gases on Solids

Adsorption of Gases on Solids

Adsorption is a process where molecules, known as the adsorbates, accumulate on a surface, which is referred to as the adsorbent or substrate. Occurring at the solid-gas interface, this phenomenon is crucial in various scientific and industrial contexts. The reverse of adsorption is desorption.Two types of adsorptions exist: physical (physisorption) and chemical (chemisorption). Physisorption involves gas molecules held to the solid's surface by relatively weak intermolecular van der Waals...

Adsorption Isotherms II

Adsorption Isotherms II

Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) introduced a theory in 1938 that modified Langmuir's assumptions to explain multilayer physical adsorption. This theory is applicable to Type II isotherms and provides a more realistic picture of adsorption processes. The BET theory assumes a uniform solid surface with localized adsorption sites, where adsorption at one site doesn't affect adsorption at neighboring sites. This theory also allows for the possibility of additional molecules being adsorbed on top...

Adsorption Isotherms I

Adsorption Isotherms I

Adsorption isotherms are mathematical models that describe how molecules in a gas or liquid phase interact with surfaces. Two of the most common isotherm models are the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, which relate to Type I monolayer chemisorption. The Langmuir model is based on four key assumptions:• Adsorption cannot exceed monolayer coverage.• All surface sites are equivalent.• Molecules adsorb only at vacant sites.• There are no interactions between adsorbed molecules.Consider the...

Colloidal precipitates

Colloidal precipitates

The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

Surface Tension
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...

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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Multiscale Structures Aggregated by Imprinted Nanofibers for Functional Surfaces

Multiscale Structures Aggregated by Imprinted Nanofibers for Functional Surfaces

Published on: September 11, 2018

Competition between self-assembly and surface adsorption.

Jacek Dudowicz¹, Jack F Douglas, Karl F Freed

¹The James Franck Institute and the Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. dudowicz@jfi.uchicago.edu

The Journal of Chemical Physics

|March 5, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores how self-assembly competes between surfaces and solutions. Researchers found that controlling adsorption and assembly enthalpies can switch self-assembly, offering new nanomanufacturing and disease treatment possibilities.

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Multiscale Structures Aggregated by Imprinted Nanofibers for Functional Surfaces

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Investigating Single Molecule Adhesion by Atomic Force Spectroscopy

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A Technique to Functionalize and Self-assemble Macroscopic Nanoparticle-ligand Monolayer Films onto Template-free Substrates

A Technique to Functionalize and Self-assemble Macroscopic Nanoparticle-ligand Monolayer Films onto Template-free Substrates

Published on: May 9, 2014

Area of Science:

Physical Chemistry
Materials Science
Biophysics

Background:

Self-assembly is crucial in biological and material systems.
Competition between solution-based and surface-based assembly influences system behavior.
Adsorption interfaces can significantly alter self-assembly dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

To model the interplay between adsorption and equilibrium polymerization.
To investigate how temperature and enthalpy ratios affect self-assembly location.
To identify mechanisms for controlling self-assembly via surface interactions.

Main Methods:

Developed a minimal equilibrium polymerization model.
Analyzed the coupling between adsorption and self-assembly thermodynamics.
Simulated system behavior under varying temperature and enthalpy conditions.

Main Results:

Demonstrated a coupling between adsorption and self-assembly.
Showed that enthalpy ratios can switch assembly between solution and substrate.
Identified a closed-loop phase boundary analog when assembly and adsorption have opposing temperature dependencies.

Conclusions:

Surface adsorption offers a powerful method to control self-assembly processes.
Understanding this coupling is key for designing nanomanufacturing applications.
This knowledge can aid in developing treatments for diseases linked to adsorption-induced assembly.