Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles

Compared with macroscopic surfaces, the structure of water around nanoparticles is difficult to probe directly. We used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effects of particle size and morphology on the time-averaged structure and the dynamics of water molecules around two sizes of hem...

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Main Authors: Spagnoli, Dino, Gilbert, B., Waychunas, G., Banfield, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd 2009
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9614
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author Spagnoli, Dino
Gilbert, B.
Waychunas, G.
Banfield, J.
author_facet Spagnoli, Dino
Gilbert, B.
Waychunas, G.
Banfield, J.
author_sort Spagnoli, Dino
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Compared with macroscopic surfaces, the structure of water around nanoparticles is difficult to probe directly. We used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effects of particle size and morphology on the time-averaged structure and the dynamics of water molecules around two sizes of hematite (a-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. Interrogation of the simulations via atomic density maps, radial distribution functions and bound water residence times provide insight into the relationships between particle size and morphology and the behavior of interfacial water. Both 1.6 and 2.7 nm particles are predicted to cause the formation of ordered water regions close to the nanoparticle surface, but the extent of localization and ordering, the connectivity between regions of bound water, and the rates of molecular exchange between inner and outer regions are all affected by particle size and morphology. These findings are anticipated to be relevant to understanding the rates of interfacial processes involving water exchange and the transport of aqueous ions to surface sites.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-96142018-03-29T09:05:56Z Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles Spagnoli, Dino Gilbert, B. Waychunas, G. Banfield, J. Compared with macroscopic surfaces, the structure of water around nanoparticles is difficult to probe directly. We used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effects of particle size and morphology on the time-averaged structure and the dynamics of water molecules around two sizes of hematite (a-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. Interrogation of the simulations via atomic density maps, radial distribution functions and bound water residence times provide insight into the relationships between particle size and morphology and the behavior of interfacial water. Both 1.6 and 2.7 nm particles are predicted to cause the formation of ordered water regions close to the nanoparticle surface, but the extent of localization and ordering, the connectivity between regions of bound water, and the rates of molecular exchange between inner and outer regions are all affected by particle size and morphology. These findings are anticipated to be relevant to understanding the rates of interfacial processes involving water exchange and the transport of aqueous ions to surface sites. 2009 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9614 10.1016/j.gca.2009.04.005 Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd restricted
spellingShingle Spagnoli, Dino
Gilbert, B.
Waychunas, G.
Banfield, J.
Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles
title Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles
title_full Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles
title_fullStr Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles
title_full_unstemmed Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles
title_short Prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles
title_sort prediction of the effects of size and morphology on the structure of water around hematite nanoparticles
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9614