Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Intermolecular Forces in Solutions02:28

Intermolecular Forces in Solutions

33.6K
The formation of a solution is an example of a spontaneous process, a process that occurs under specified conditions without energy from some external source.
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...
33.6K
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview01:26

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

2.3K
Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.
2.3K
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry01:17

Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry

2.0K
The stereochemistry of electrocyclic reactions is strongly influenced by the orbital symmetry of the polyene HOMO. Under thermal conditions, the reaction proceeds via the ground-state HOMO.
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
2.0K
Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties02:56

Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties

20.8K
20.8K
Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility02:34

Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility

44.3K
Intermolecular forces are attractive forces that exist between molecules. They dictate several bulk properties, such as melting points, boiling points, and solubilities (miscibilities) of substances. Molar mass, molecular shape, and polarity affect the strength of different intermolecular forces, which influence the magnitude of physical properties across a family of molecules.
Temporary attractive forces like dispersion are present in all molecules, whether they are polar or nonpolar. They...
44.3K
Electromotive Force02:36

Electromotive Force

26.2K
Electricity is generated by either electrons or ions flowing through a solution or a conducting medium. This flow of electrons or specifically electrical charge is defined as an electric current. When electrons move through a wire, they generate an electric current. It can be recalled  that in a redox reaction, electrons are lost and gained. In the spontaneous redox reaction of zinc  with copper, when zinc is immersed in a copper ion solution, a transfer of electrons from one...
26.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hierarchical Chiral Self-Assembly of Nanocylinders Composed of Sequence-Defined Mesogenic Dimers.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Molecular dynamics investigation of the impact of methylation on the nematic phase of phenyl benzoate mesogens and dimers.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

A user's guide to your first self-driving liquid handling lab.

Digital discovery·2026
Same author

Iron-Catalyzed Cross-[2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Butadiene and α,ω-Dienes for Ductile and Chemically Recyclable Poly(oligocyclobutanes).

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Asymmetric Effects Underlying Dynamic Heterogeneity in Miscible Blends of Poly(methyl methacrylate) with Poly(ethylene oxide).

Macromolecules·2026
Same author

General Equilibration of Macromolecular Systems by Kuhn-Scale Mapping and Dynamic Backmapping.

Journal of chemical theory and computation·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications
05:33

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Published on: August 12, 2013

21.7K

Thermodynamic driving forces in contact electrification between polymeric materials.

Hang Zhang1, Sankaran Sundaresan2, Michael A Webb3

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.

Nature Communications
|March 24, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Thermodynamics explains contact charging in insulating polymers by analyzing water-ion transfer. Simulations predict charge transfer direction, aligning with experimental data and revealing molecular interactions at the polymer-water interface.

More Related Videos

Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties
10:16

Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties

Published on: January 8, 2016

13.9K
Reductive Electropolymerization of a Vinyl-containing Poly-pyridyl Complex on Glassy Carbon and Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Electrodes
09:17

Reductive Electropolymerization of a Vinyl-containing Poly-pyridyl Complex on Glassy Carbon and Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Electrodes

Published on: January 30, 2015

11.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications
05:33

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Published on: August 12, 2013

21.7K
Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties
10:16

Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties

Published on: January 8, 2016

13.9K
Reductive Electropolymerization of a Vinyl-containing Poly-pyridyl Complex on Glassy Carbon and Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Electrodes
09:17

Reductive Electropolymerization of a Vinyl-containing Poly-pyridyl Complex on Glassy Carbon and Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide Electrodes

Published on: January 30, 2015

11.9K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Computational Physics

Background:

  • Contact charging, or electrification, is the static charge transfer between materials upon contact, crucial for many technologies but poorly understood at a molecular level.
  • For insulating polymers, the identity of charge carriers and the direction of charge transfer lack clear explanations, hindering mechanistic understanding and application.
  • Previous research suggests water-ions, like hydronium and hydroxide ions, may act as charge carriers in contact electrification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if thermodynamics can explain contact charging between insulating polymers using molecular dynamics simulations.
  • To predict the preferred direction of charge transfer between polymer surfaces based on the free energy of water-ions.
  • To elucidate the molecular-level interactions governing contact charging in insulating polymers.

Main Methods:

  • Employed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to model contact electrification between insulating polymer surfaces.
  • Calculated the free energy of water-ions (hydronium and hydroxide) within water droplets on different polymer surfaces.
  • Correlated simulation-based predictions of charge transfer direction with experimental triboelectric series.

Main Results:

  • Thermodynamic predictions of charge transfer direction between polymers showed broad agreement with experimental triboelectric series.
  • Simulation analyses identified specific interactions between water, water-ions, and the polymer-water interface as key factors influencing charge transfer.
  • Evidence suggests that thermodynamically driven ion transfer significantly influences the contact charging of insulating polymers.

Conclusions:

  • Thermodynamic driving forces, specifically ion transfer, play a relevant role in the contact charging of insulating polymers.
  • Molecular-level insights into polymer-water-ion interactions provide a mechanistic explanation for observed charging trends.
  • This study offers a new perspective for understanding and potentially controlling contact charging in polymeric materials for various applications.