Salt Solutions in Carbon Nanotubes: The Role of Cation−π Interactions

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• 作者：Tuan Anh Pham ; S. M. Golam Mortuza ; Brandon C. Wood ; Edmond Y. Lau ; Tadashi Ogitsu ; Steven F. Buchsbaum ; Zuzanna S. Siwy ; Francesco Fornasiero ; Eric Schwegler
• 刊名：Journal of Physical Chemistry C
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：April 7, 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：120
• 期：13
• 页码：7332-7338
• 全文大小：438K
• ISSN：1932-7455

文摘

Understanding the structure of aqueous electrolytes at interfaces is essential for predicting and optimizing device performance for a wide variety of emerging energy and environmental technologies. In this work, we investigate the structure of two common salt solutions, NaCl and KCl, at a hydrophobic interface within narrow carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Using a combination of first-principles and classical molecular dynamics simulations in conjunction with molecular orbital analysis, we find that the solvation structure of the cations in the CNTs can deviate substantially from the conventional weakly interacting hydrophobic picture. Instead, interactions between solvated ions and π orbitals of the CNTs are found to play a critically important role. Specifically, the ion solvation structure is ultimately determined by a complex interplay between cation−π interactions and the intrinsic flexibility of the solvation shell. In the case of K⁺, these effects result in an unusually strong propensity to partially desolvate and reside closer to the carbon wall than both Na⁺ and Cl^–, in sharp contrast with the known ion ordering at the water–vapor interface.