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The Role of Fabric in Frictional Properties of Phyllosilicate-Rich Tectonic Faults
Published on: November 6, 2021
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Surface microstructure engenders unusual hydrophobicity in phyllosilicates.
Xinwen Ou1, Zhang Lin, Jingyuan Li
1Institute of Quantitative Biology and Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China. jingyuanli@zju.edu.cn.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|April 6, 2018
Summary
Naturally formed minerals exhibit polar hydrophobicity by trapping water in surface cavities, disrupting hydrogen bonds. Reducing surface roughness enhances wettability, challenging the Wenzel model for atomically rough polar surfaces.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Materials Chemistry
- Mineralogy
Background:
- Understanding the wettability of polar materials is crucial for various applications.
- Existing models like the Wenzel model may not fully capture the behavior of atomically rough surfaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism behind the polar hydrophobicity observed in naturally formed minerals.
- To investigate the role of surface topography and water molecule interactions in determining mineral surface wettability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of naturally formed mineral surfaces with atomic-scale roughness.
- Experimental observation of water molecule trapping within surface cavities.
- Investigation of hydrogen bond interactions of interfacial water.
Main Results:
- Surface cavities in minerals effectively trap water molecules.
- Trapped water disrupts hydrogen bonding, leading to significant hydrophobicity.
- Decreasing surface roughness reduces water trapping and enhances wettability.
Conclusions:
- A novel mechanism for polar hydrophobicity in minerals involving water trapping is presented.
- The Wenzel model is insufficient for describing wettability on polar materials with atomic-scale roughness.
- Surface topography plays a critical role in the interfacial water behavior and overall wettability of these minerals.
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