LangmuirPub Date : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02182
Juan M Vazquez,Lucas Ellis,Stephen P Beaudoin,David S Corti
{"title":"The Effects of Sample Tilt on Atomic Force Microscopy Deflections.","authors":"Juan M Vazquez,Lucas Ellis,Stephen P Beaudoin,David S Corti","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02182","url":null,"abstract":"The atomic force microscope (AFM) is used to measure the forces between a probe particle mounted at the end of the flexible AFM cantilever and a given substrate or sample. Most existing models that describe the cantilever deflections in AFM experiments assume the sample is perfectly leveled. However, the samples are rarely, if ever, placed exactly perpendicular to the approach direction of the cantilever. Moreover, AFM cantilevers are typically mounted at a downward angle, resulting in a difference between the vertical deflections registered by the AFM and the deflections of the cantilever. The effects of both sample and cantilever tilt on the deflections obtained for the approach-to-contact (AtC) portion of an AFM deflection-distance curve have not been previously considered. Prior work only considered the impact of cantilever tilt on the deflections obtained for the pull-off (PO) portion of the AFM deflection-distance curve. Using a recently developed model of the AtC and PO, which accounts for both the attractive and repulsive interactions between the probe and sample, as well as the surface roughness of the substrate, we present a computational study of the effects of both sample and cantilever tilt on the AtC and PO deflections. We also perform AFM experiments with probes of two different sizes and a sapphire substrate held at various sample tilt angles. Overall, the experimental results are in good agreement with the predictions of the model. The PO deflections exhibit the expected decrease as sample tilt angle is increased, while the AtC deflections are weakly dependent on sample tilt angle, except at large angles. Both the experiments and model predictions indicate that as long as the sample is leveled as best as possible, sample tilt has no significant effect on the AtC deflections and essentially no impact on the PO deflections.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"92 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
LangmuirPub Date : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01858
Enqiang Hao,Tong Liu,Xujie Wang,Hongxing Duan,Wangyang Li,Congcong Zhu,Kaiyue Wang
{"title":"Modulating MoS2 Substrate via d-p Orbital Hybridization Driven by π-Electron Feedback Effect for Dual-Site Adsorption Enhancement of Formaldehyde.","authors":"Enqiang Hao,Tong Liu,Xujie Wang,Hongxing Duan,Wangyang Li,Congcong Zhu,Kaiyue Wang","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01858","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01858","url":null,"abstract":"Two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs), such as MoS2 (MS), exhibit chemically inert basal planes due to saturated intralayer coordination. This inherent inertness limits their specific recognition and adsorption of target gas molecules as gas-sensitive materials. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we report a strategy to achieve efficient formaldehyde adsorption by enhancing d-p orbital hybridization within the MS lattice to establish a π-electron feedback mechanism. Specifically, codoping the lattice with transition metal Zr atoms and nonmetallic N atoms strengthens the matrix's d-p orbital hybridization, thereby inducing a π-back-donation effect at the MS-Zr-N/formaldehyde (CH2O) interface. Notably, this π-electron feedback mechanism facilitates the formation of dual adsorption sites between the MS-Zr-N substrate and formaldehyde molecules, significantly enhancing specific adsorption capacity. Consequently, the MS-Zr-N substrate demonstrates high adsorption stability (adsorption energy: - 3.023 eV), superior sensitivity (38.47), and excellent selectivity toward formaldehyde. This work provides theoretical guidance for designing gas-sensitive materials from the perspective of orbital hybridization and interfacial electron feedback in adsorption systems.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"114 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
LangmuirPub Date : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02546
Jun Luo,Jizhong Deng,Zhiyi Wu,Yuanyu Wang
{"title":"Investigation on Piezoelectric Output Property of Bi2.5Na3.5Nb5O18 Modified P(VDF-TrFE) Piezoelectric Composite Films with Hierarchical Layer Structure.","authors":"Jun Luo,Jizhong Deng,Zhiyi Wu,Yuanyu Wang","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02546","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02546","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, Bi2.5Na2.5Nb5O18 (BNN5)/poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) piezoelectric composite films were prepared via electrospinning technology. Meanwhile, the uniaxial intermittent alternating dual-spray method was employed to obtain composite films with alternating concentration variations of BNN5, which were then utilized to fabricate piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs). Among them, the composite film with a BNN5 content of 3/5 wt % exhibited the optimal β-phase proportion, reaching 85.1%. The piezoelectric output performance of this composite film was significantly enhanced: it had an output voltage as high as 25.3 V, which was 339.2% higher than that of the P(VDF-TrFE) film and 54.7% higher than that of the 4 wt % composite film with the same concentration. When the resistive load was 1 MΩ, the peak instantaneous output power was 38.3 μW, with a calculated current of 6.2 μA and an output power density of 5.1 μW/cm2. Both the current and power were higher than those of most reported PVDF/P(VDF-TrFE)-based piezoelectric films. The durability test with over 2200 cycles demonstrated that the piezoelectric composite film had excellent mechanical stability. This work presents a strategy to boost the output performance of piezoelectric composite films, namely, fabricating P(VDF-TrFE) composite films using the uniaxial intermittent alternating dual-spray technique, to meet the requirements of wearable and flexible electronic devices.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"114 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhanced Electron Transfer via the Interface Engineering of MoS2/MXene for Uranium Reduction and Organic Pollutants Degradation under Sunlight.","authors":"Shuyang Li,Xiaoyong Yang,Wenhao Liu,Zixin Peng,Hewen Shang,Zhenpeng Cui,Duoqiang Pan,Wangsuo Wu","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01485","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01485","url":null,"abstract":"Photocatalytic methods are extensively used in the treatment of uranium-containing wastewater. However, the reduction of uranium in natural sunlight remains a central challenge. This work proposed a MoS2 nanoflower-coupled Ti3C2 MXene reduction cocatalyst for bifunctional catalytic systems to remove U(VI) and degrade organic pollutants under natural sunlight. Advanced spectral characterization showed that MoS2/Ti3C2 had excellent photogenerated carrier transfer and light absorption capabilities. The experimental results show that when uranium and organic pollutants coexist, the removal rate of uranium is as high as 99%, and no sacrificial agents or inert gases are involved in this process. Further, theoretical calculations demonstrate that the bond behavior in the MoS2/Ti3C2 composites combines covalent bonds and ionic bonds, and about 0.497 electrons are transferred from Ti3C2 to the MoS2 monolayer. Two possible random adsorption interaction scenarios of [UO2·(H2O)5]2+ on MoS2/Ti3C2 composites are revealed meaningfully. The efficient removal of uranium and organic pollutants under real sunlight confirms the significant potential of the bifunctional photocatalyst for practical applications in radioactive wastewater.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhanced Pickering Emulsification of Nano Titanium Dioxide via Sodium Lignosulfonate for Sunscreen Formulations.","authors":"Yue Cai,Yangyang Zhu,Haoguan Gui,Jiabao Fan,Junjie Nian,Cun Zhu,Yoojung Song,Sungbong Kye,Xiubo Zhao,Chao Yao","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02855","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02855","url":null,"abstract":"A high-energy ball milling strategy was developed to optimize nano titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) through sodium lignosulfonate (SL)-mediated electrostatic surface modification. At 20 wt % nano-TiO2 and 5 wt % SL, the colloidal system achieved optimal stability with a sun protection factor (SPF) elevation from 15 to 17. Subsequent emulsion formulation with various aqueous phase to oil phase mass ratios (κ) yielded a Pickering emulsion at different pH values, demonstrating exceptional interfacial stabilization via nano-TiO2 and SL electrostatic assembly. The optimized TSL-4 emulsion (κ = 1:1, pH = 4) exhibited remarkable storage stability (keeping over 25 SPF value after 6 weeks of accelerated test) and thermal resilience (maintaining above 91% SPF retention through 10 freeze-thaw cycles.). Biological evaluations of TSL-4 (κ = 1:1) emulsion demonstrated no phototoxicity (irradiated vs nonirradiated viability difference < 2%), low cytotoxicity (90% HaCaT cell viability), and minimal cutaneous permeation (no nanoparticle accumulation in subcutaneous layers). The biomass-compound-modified nano-TiO2 system establishes a multifunctional sunscreen platform that synergistically integrates UV attenuation, colloidal stability, and biosafety.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
LangmuirPub Date : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c00704
Hao Luo,Ming Zhou,Zhizhen Zhou,Jingxin Huang,Xingji Chen,Hongjun Tu
{"title":"Multiscale Insights into the Counterion-Mediated Self-Assembly of CTA+ Micelles: Bridging Molecular Interactions and Mesoscopic Morphology.","authors":"Hao Luo,Ming Zhou,Zhizhen Zhou,Jingxin Huang,Xingji Chen,Hongjun Tu","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c00704","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c00704","url":null,"abstract":"As a cationic surfactant, the diverse self-assembly behaviors of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTA+) are influenced by the structure and type of counterions. However, related issues have not been systematically studied. Therefore, this paper employs multiscale simulations using density functional theory and coarse-grained molecular dynamics to simulate the interaction and dynamic behavior between CTA+ and different aromatic counterions. The results show that the stronger the hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic group of the counterion, the easier it is for the counterion to \"insert\" into the micelle, thus effectively shielding the electrostatic repulsion between the surfactant headgroups. The arrangement of CTA+ headgroups on the micelle surface tends to be hexagonal with closest packing. The reason why sulfonate counterions promote the growth of wormlike micelles more easily than carboxylate counterions is that the stronger interaction between the sulfonate group and the quaternary ammonium contributes to the more effective shielding of electrostatic repulsion and facilitates micelle growth. Additionally, we found that the stability of the CTA+-BSA micelle system with sulfonate counterions is better than that of the CTA+-BzO system with carboxylate counterions. The research results deepen the basic understanding of the counterion-mediated micellization process and provide actionable guidelines for the engineering design of viscoelastic surfactants.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
LangmuirPub Date : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c03068
Joru̅nas Dobilas,Evaldas E Tornau
{"title":"Numerical Study of INDO4 Molecules: Ordering of Centered Honeycomb Structures and Central Molecule Switching.","authors":"Joru̅nas Dobilas,Evaldas E Tornau","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c03068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c03068","url":null,"abstract":"We simulate the ordering of centered honeycomb patterns formed by elongated s-indacene-1,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetrone (INDO4) molecules recently observed on Ag(100) and Ag(111) surfaces. Based on a detailed analysis of STM images and plausible intermolecular interactions, we propose a coarse-grained six-state model similar to multistate lattice models used in phase transition theory. Each state in our model corresponds to a distinct molecular orientation, while the ordering of the two centered honeycomb phases is governed by four main distance-dependent intermolecular interactions. The fundamental building block of these phases is a 7-molecule honeycomb with the central molecule adopting different angular positions. For INDO4/Ag(111), this leads to switching of the central molecule between two orientations. Within our model, we derive ground-state phase diagrams and attribute this switching to degeneracy in the interaction energies of the two centered honeycomb phases. Our Monte Carlo simulations nicely corroborate these results. To quantify intermolecular interactions, we performed DFT calculations to obtain pair and trio interaction potentials. Furthermore, we computed the expansion energy of the centered honeycomb (7-molecule cluster) for both orientations of the central molecule and determined that the degeneracy occurs at the cluster expansion length of 1.3-1.4 Å.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nickel-Iron Phosphide Composite Material Based on Carbon Cloth as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.","authors":"Jingru Ren,Hao Niu,Chunsheng Sheng,Xiang Chen,Limin Dong","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02119","url":null,"abstract":"Advancing sustainable energy conversion technologies requires the rational design of electrocatalysts that simultaneously achieve high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and operational stability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, the nanoflower structure of nickel-iron phosphide was homogeneously grown on a substrate carbon cloth (NiFeP/CC) through hydrothermal and phosphating treatment. The as-synthesized NiFeP/CC possesses distinctive hierarchical architectures and efficiently augments the electrochemically active surface area. The NiFeP/CC electrocatalyst exhibited a lower overpotential (η) of 186 mV for OER at a current density of 10 mA·cm-2 in 1 M KOH. The excellent performance is attributed to the enhanced synergistic interaction between Ni and Fe. In addition, NiFeP/CC exhibits excellent durability, maintaining current density with almost no attenuation over 24 h in alkaline environments. The product has been tested, verifying its stability and reliability in practical applications.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
LangmuirPub Date : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02395
Xuesong Zhang,Zhenzhong Fan,Yuanfeng Fu,Li Cai,Jingang Liu
{"title":"The Interfacial Properties and Thermodynamic/Kinetic Stabilization Mechanisms of Bulk Nanobubbles: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.","authors":"Xuesong Zhang,Zhenzhong Fan,Yuanfeng Fu,Li Cai,Jingang Liu","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02395","url":null,"abstract":"Bulk nanobubbles can remain stable in solution for hours or days, but the stabilization mechanism of bubbles remains highly controversial, lacking systematic research and theoretical explanations. This study employed molecular dynamics simulation, using an all-atom model to construct nitrogen and oxygen nanobubbles of different sizes, and conducted a systematic analysis of nanobubble stabilization mechanisms from multiple dimensions, including thermodynamics, mechanical mechanics, energetics, and diffusion dynamics, while verifying the applicability of certain theories and equations. The research results indicate that the gas density inside nanobubbles is significantly higher than that under standard temperature and pressure conditions by more than 2 orders of magnitude. The bubble surface forms a gas-liquid interface layer and hydration layer, which decreases with increasing bubble size. The hydrogen bond structure density on the bubble surface is smaller than that in liquid water, and the charge distribution exhibits a typical \"positive inside, negative outside\" double-layer structural characteristic. There is a significant pressure difference inside and outside the bubble, a phenomenon that conforms to the Young-Laplace equation. The dynamical simulation results are consistent with the diffusion coefficients calculated by the Einstein-Stokes equation, and the gas diffusion capacity decreases with increasing bubble size. The gas solubility inside the bubble is far higher than the standard state saturation solubility calculated by Henry's law. The results are consistent with the Epstein-Plesset theoretical trend of nanobubble lifetime. This study enhances the microscopic-level understanding of nanobubble stabilization mechanisms, providing a critical theoretical basis and practical guidance for their potential applications in cavitation and mass transfer within water treatment.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"144 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unusual Temperature-Dependent Thermal Conductivity in Monolayer NCCN: Role of Phonon Hydrodynamics.","authors":"Sheng Wang,Zhong-Xiang Xie,Geng-Hua Liu,Si-Jie Chen,Xue-Kun Chen","doi":"10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02215","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02215","url":null,"abstract":"Seeking high-thermal-conductivity materials is a route to enhancing the efficiency of heat dissipation in Ga-based high-power-density devices. In this work, we use first-principles calculations with the Boltzmann transport equation to predict the thermal conductivity of nitrogen-substituted diamane (NCCN). It is found that the thermal conductivity (κ) of NCCN is as high as 1800 W/mK at room temperature, which is 13.7% smaller compared to that before considering four-phonon scattering. Moreover, there is an anomalous temperature dependence of κ, inconsistent with the typical κ ∼ 1/T trend. This unusual phonon transport behavior stems from the significant hydrodynamic phonon transport in NCCN, where momentum-conserving N-scattering is a dominant scattering mechanism. More importantly, NCCN demonstrates promising potential for hydrodynamic phonon transport above room temperature and over a broader temperature window compared to that of graphene. With the application of tensile strain, the anomalous temperature dependence of κ is subject to change, as longitudinal acoustic and transverse acoustic phonon softening offsets the effects of flexural acoustic-mode linearization, resulting in a decrease in κ with increased strain. Our conclusion could assist the future exploration of hydrodynamic thermal transport behaviors in 2D materials.","PeriodicalId":50,"journal":{"name":"Langmuir","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}