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In Situ Monitoring of Water-Sodium Chloride Diffusion via a Fiber-Integrated Plasmonic Microsensor
Rongtao Huang1,2, Yuxin Chen1, Jianzhi Zhang1
1School of Physics and Optoelectronics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|July 14, 2025
Summary
This study monitored water-sodium chloride diffusion using a novel microsensor. The findings reveal non-Fickian diffusion behavior, offering new insights into liquid-liquid diffusion dynamics and ion movement.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
Background:
- Water-sodium chloride diffusion is a key liquid-liquid system.
- Understanding ion movement in diffusion is crucial across scientific disciplines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To in situ monitor water-sodium chloride solution diffusion.
- To investigate the space-time evolution of sodium chloride concentration.
- To explain observed non-Fickian diffusion behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a fiber-integrated plasmonic microsensor for high space-time resolution monitoring.
- Analyzed the space-time evolution of sodium chloride concentration during diffusion.
Main Results:
- Observed non-Fickian diffusion law where the diffusion coefficient remained constant.
- Identified movement of the diffusion layer center towards the water side, attributed to surface tension effects.
- Found that higher sodium chloride concentrations resulted in smaller diffusion coefficients and greater movement.
Conclusions:
- The study explains non-Fickian water-sodium chloride diffusion via the equivalent surface tension effect.
- This research enriches liquid-liquid diffusion theory.
- Demonstrates the utility of the developed microsensor for studying ion diffusion in liquids.
