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Exotic Ethanol-Water Diffusion Mediated by Molecular Self-Assembly
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
|December 26, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a novel microsensor to study ethanol-water diffusion, revealing unexpected non-Fickian behaviors like a decreasing diffusion coefficient and molecular self-assembly, enriching liquid-liquid diffusion theory.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate physicochemical models for ethanol-water mutual diffusion are lacking.
- Understanding this process is crucial due to the widespread use of ethanol and water.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the one-dimensional diffusion of ethanol solutions in water.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of non-Fickian diffusion in this system.
Main Methods:
- In situ monitoring of the diffusion process using a homemade plasmonic microsensor.
- Achieved high space-time resolution for detailed observation.
Main Results:
- Observed two non-Fickian diffusion behaviors: a decreasing effective diffusion coefficient and a three-stage movement of the diffusion layer center.
- Detected molecular self-assembly accompanying the diffusion process.
- Correlated these behaviors with excess volume and interfacial tension effects.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals exotic diffusion phenomena in ethanol-water mixing.
- Findings enrich liquid-liquid diffusion theory and provide insights into the physicochemical characteristics of the process.
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