Electric Double Layer Repulsion Research Articles

Effect of equilibrium contact angle on water equilibrium film thickness for the carbon dioxide–brine–mineral system based on surface force theory

AbstractThe thickness of the thin wetting film depends on disjoining pressure forces, and it evolves with pH evolution due to brine acidification at the physical and chemical conditions of geological carbon dioxide storage becoming thinner in response to dewetting. In the literature, molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) studies have been employed to understand the effect of pressure/capillary pressure on the thin wetting film evolution. In this paper, a theoretical approach based on the Frumkin–Derjaguin Equation (FDE), models of electric double layer repulsion, and van der Waals forces have been used for the calculation of the wetting film thickness. The approach excluded hydration forces contribution to disjoining pressure forces due partly to its poorly understood nature, and partly to the high salinity conditions encountered in geological carbon storage. Due to its promising global storage capacity compared to other lithologies, the carbon dioxide–brine–silica systems was chosen to simulate sandstone saline aquifers. The validation of the model benefited much from literature resources on data and a universal model of carbon dioxide–brine interfacial tension. Calculated results confirm pH-induced dewetting and they follow trends controlled by pH and pressure as found in the literature. The novelty of the paper can be seen from the fact that it has demonstrated a theoretical supplement to MDS studies in addition to justifying the fundamental utility and versatility of the FDE. Moreover, the paper links for the first time, a transcendental equation to the thin wetting film theory encountered in the carbon dioxide–solid–brine system found in geological carbon storage.

Strong Lewis acid-induced self-healing of loose FeOOH for alkaline oxygen evolution

The fast leaching of the Fe catalytic center and low conductivity of FeOOH have hindered the optimal stability and activity of Fe-based electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions (OER). Here, Zn2+ is introduced into FeOOH with a looser nanosheet structure by regulating electric double layer (EDL) repulsion during electrodeposition. Meanwhile, as strong Lewis acids, Zn2+ in ZnxFeOOH could act as an electron acceptor, accepting electrons from FeOOH. The doping of Zn2+ shortens the bond length of Fe-O and enhances the covalency of Fe-O to improve electron transport rate and stability. The faster catalytic kinetics also been obtained by facilitating O* to form OOH* intermediates. At 100 mA cm−2, Zn0.5FeOOH requires overpotential of only 250 mV and maintains initial activity in 1 M KOH after 120 h. Notably, Zn-induced self-healing is achieved when the leaching and redeposition of Fe reach dynamic equilibrium. In 1 M KOH seawater, Zn0.5FeOOH requires overpotentials of 286 mV to produce current density of 100 mA cm−2. At 2.0 V, Zn0.5FeOOH can achieve 1000 mA cm−2 in anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzer at room temperature. This work provides an effective Zn-induced strategy for designing efficient and stable OER catalysts for industrial development.

Exploring the mechanisms of calcium carbonate deposition on various substrates with implications for effective anti-scaling material selection

The unexpected scaling phenomena have resulted in significant damages to the oil and gas industries, leading to issues such as heat exchanger failures and pipeline clogging. It is of practical and fundamental importance to understand the scaling mechanisms and develop efficient anti-scaling strategies. However, the underlying surface interaction mechanisms of scalants (e.g., calcite) with various substrates are still not fully understood. In this work, the colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique has been applied to directly quantify the surface forces between calcite particles and different metallic substrates, including carbon steel (CR1018), low alloy steel (4140), stainless steel (SS304) and tungsten carbide, under different water chemistries (i.e., salinity and pH). Measured force profiles revealed that the attractive van der Waals (VDW) interaction contributed to the attachment of the calcium carbonate particles on substrate surfaces, while the repulsive electric double layer (EDL) interactions could inhibit the attachment behaviors. High salinity and acidic pH conditions of aqueous solutions could weaken the EDL repulsion and promote the attachment behavior. The adhesion of calcite particles with CR1018 and 4140 substrates was much stronger than that with SS304 and tungsten carbide substrates. The bulk scaling tests in aqueous solutions from an industrial oil production process showed that much more severe scaling behaviors of calcite was detected on CR1018 and 4140 than those on SS304 and tungsten carbide, which agreed with surface force measurement results. Besides, high salinity and acidic pH can significantly enhance the scaling phenomena. This work provides fundamental insights into the scaling mechanisms of calcite at the nanoscale with practical implications for the selection of suitable anti-scaling materials in petroleum industries.

Ultrathin Zincophilic Interphase Regulated Electric Double Layer Enabling Highly Stable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

HighlightsElectric double-layer regulation enabled by an ultrathin multifunctional solid electrolyte interphase layer with zincophilicity and rapid transport kinetics.Lowered potential drop over the Helmholtz layer and suppressed diffuse layer.Inhibited side reactions and uniform zinc deposition.

Elevated temperature effects (T > 100 °C) on the interfacial water and microstructure swelling of Na-montmorillonite

Montmorillonite-based barriers are key elements of the engineered barrier systems (EBS) in geological disposal facilities (GDF). Their performance at temperatures above 100 °C is not sufficiently understood to assess the possibility of raising the temperature limits in GDF designs that could reduce construction costs and CO2 footprint. The present work provides new fundamental insights through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of Na-montmorillonite's water-clay interactions and swelling pressure at temperatures 298–500 K and basal spacings of 1.5–3.5 nm. At temperatures above 100 °C, the swelling behaviour is governed by the attractive van der Waals force and the repulsive hydration force instead of the repulsive electrostatic (double layer) force. The swelling pressure reduction with increasing temperature is related to the weakened hydration repulsion and electric double layer repulsion, which result from the deterioration of the interlayer water layer structure and the shrinkage of the electric double layer. The applicability and breakdown of the classic Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory at elevated temperatures are examined. By excluding the osmotic contribution in the DLVO theory, the summation of the van der Waals interaction in DLVO and an additional non-DLVO hydration interaction can predict our MD system's swelling under high temperatures. The findings of this study provide a fundamental understanding of the swelling behaviour and the underlying molecular-level mechanisms of the clay microstructure under extreme conditions.

Electrolyte-induced aggregation of zein protein nanoparticles in aqueous dispersions

Ion specific effects on the charging and aggregation features of zein nanoparticles (ZNP) were studied in aqueous suspensions by electrophoretic and time-resolved dynamic light scattering techniques. The influence of mono- and multivalent counterions on the colloidal stability was investigated for positively and negatively charged particles at pH values below and above the isoelectric point, respectively. The sequence of the destabilization power of monovalent salts followed the prediction of the indirect Hofmeister series for positively charged particles, while the direct Hofmeister series for negatively charged ones assumed a hydrophobic character for their surface. The multivalent ions destabilized the oppositely charged ZNPs more effectively and the aggregation process followed the Schulze-Hardy rule. For some multivalent ions, strong adsorption led to charge reversal resulting in restabilization of the suspensions. The experimental critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) could be well-predicted with the theory developed by Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek indicating that the aggregation processes were mainly driven by electrical double layer repulsion and van der Waals attraction. The ion specific dependence of the CCCs is owing to the modification of the surface charge through ion adsorption at different extents. These results are crucial for drug delivery applications, where inorganic electrolytes are present in ZNP samples.

Enhancement of shear flocculation of a galena suspension by ultrasonic treatment

The enhancement of shear flocculation of a galena suspension by ultrasound in the presence of sodium isopropyl xanthate and potassium ethyl xanthate was investigated by studying the effects of surfactant concentration on flocculation efficiency, contact angle, and zeta potential. Strong flocculation was obtained under alkaline conditions (pH > 9) and a high ultrasound power level (150 W). Although the ultrasonic treatment increased the negativity of the zeta potential of the galena particles, this did not decrease the flocculation efficiency, thereby showing that the hydrophobic interactions between the particle were stronger than the electrical double-layer repulsion resulting from xanthate adsorption. The findings indicate that the ultrasonic treatment promoted the adsorption of surfactants onto the mineral surfaces.

Probing the surface forces between air bubbles and bitumen via direct force Measurements: Effects of aqueous chemistry

The surface interactions of air bubbles and other components (e.g., particles, oil droplets) significantly influence the operation efficiency of a variety of engineering processes such as oily water treatment, bitumen extraction and flotation. Herein, the surface interactions of air bubbles with two types of Athabasca bitumen samples in aqueous solutions of varying pH, salinity, type of cations and in the presence of surfactants have been systematically characterized using a bubble probe atomic force microscope (AFM) technique. AFM imaging has revealed that exposure to high concentrations of NaCl and CaCl2 solutions or alkaline environments causes roughening of the bitumen surfaces. The results of surface force measurements demonstrate that the interaction and attachment behaviors between bubbles and bitumen are significantly affected by ionic strength, solution pH, and the presence of surfactants. The experimental force measurement results could be accurately described by a theoretical model that incorporates Reynolds lubrication theory and augmented Young-Laplace equation, with the inclusion of disjoining pressure. In low-salinity conditions, the bubble-bitumen interaction is dominated by electric double layer (EDL) repulsion, which prevents surface attachment. This effect is more pronounced at elevated pH conditions. In high-salinity solutions, however, the EDL interactions are significantly reduced, and the hydrophobic interaction becomes the dominant factor, overcoming the van der Waals repulsion and leading to the attachment of bubbles to bitumen surfaces. Raising aqueous pH weakens the bubble-bitumen hydrophobic interaction, whereas the introduction of calcium ions strengthens this interaction, resulting in enhanced surface attachment. Interestingly, even in high-salinity conditions, the presence of a small number of surfactants can inhibit bubble-bitumen contact, mainly caused by reduced hydrophobic attraction and increased steric repulsion. This work provides valuable nanoscale insights into how bubbles and bitumen interact in intricate aqueous environments, and the results show practical implications for controlling similar interfacial phenomena in various engineering processes.

Quantifying bubble-scheelite interaction under the effect of sodium oleate

Scheelite (CaWO4) is mainly collected through froth flotation. It has significant applications in the manufacturing of alloys and steels. To better understand bubble-scheelite attachment mechanisms, we probed the interaction force between a bubble and a scheelite surface using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and investigated the way in which sodium oleate and calcium ions affected how the bubble attached. The results showed that the electrical double layer (EDL) force was the main repulsive force that inhibited the scheelite-bubble attachment. Adding 0.01 mM of sodium oleate (NaOl) to the solution could hydrophobize the scheelite surface, allowing the hydrophobic attraction to dominate bubble-scheelite interaction. Increasing the NaOl concentration from 0.01 mM NaO1 to 0.02 mM made the scheelite and bubble’s zeta potential more negative, resulting in a stronger EDL repulsion. Increasing the NaOl concentration also reduced the interfacial tension of the bubble, which could inhibit the bubble-scheelite attachment; accordingly, the air bubble cannot attach to the scheelite surface when NaOl concentration was 0.02 mM. Adding calcium ions significantly reduced the magnitude of the scheelite and bubble’s zeta potential, which was increased by adding the NaOl. Reducing the magnitude weakened the EDL repulsive force and facilitated the bubble attachment. The interfacial tension for the air bubble was significantly increased from 39.5 to 69.8 mM/m, when the calcium ions concentration was only 1 mM, which could increase the Laplace pressure and benefit the bubble attachment. The weakened repulsive force and the increased interfacial tension led to the scheelite-bubble attachment. Micro-flotation tests also verified that the excessive NaOl concentration was detrimental for scheelite flotation and that the adverse effects could be eliminated by adding calcium ions. This study yielded quantitative data on the interaction forces between a scheelite surface and a bubble, providing a better understanding of the fundamental interaction mechanisms for bubble-scheelite attachment in mineral flotation.

An overview of surface forces and the DLVO theory

This lecture text focuses on surface forces and interactions in a liquid medium, with particular emphasis on the surface-surface interactions described by the DLVO theory, i.e., van der Waals attraction and electric double-layer repulsion. The text begins by describing the fundamental forces of nature, their connection to intermolecular interactions, and how the latter result in measurable forces between surfaces and macroscopical objects. A step-by-step reasoning on how DLVO forces arise is then presented, accompanied by a simplified description of the mathematical derivations of the main equations within the framework of the theory. The connection between the DLVO theory and the prediction of the stability of colloidal systems is presented. Examples on how the colloidal stability can be controlled or tuned are presented. The shortcomings of the original DLVO theory are discussed, and recent extended models dealing with these issues are briefly described. The text closes with a general overview of some of the most relevant non-DLVO interaction.

Surface interaction mechanisms of air bubbles, asphaltenes and oil drops in aqueous solutions with implications for interfacial engineering processes

HypothesisSurface interactions of bubbles and oil with interface-active species like asphaltenes influence many interfacial phenomena in various engineering processes. It holds both fundamental and practical significance to quantitatively characterize these interactions. ExperimentsThe surface forces of air bubbles, asphaltenes and asphaltenes-toluene droplets in various aqueous solutions have been quantified using an integrated thin film drainage apparatus and an atomic force microscope coupled with bubble probe. The effects of asphaltenes concentration, pH, salinity, Ca2+ ions and surfactants have been examined. FindingsHydrophobic interaction drives attachment of bubbles and asphaltenes surfaces or oil droplets under high salinity condition. Increasing asphaltenes concentration in oil droplets enhances their hydrophobic attraction with bubbles due to strengthened asphaltenes adsorption and aggregation at oil–water interface. Increasing pH weakens the hydrophobic interaction as oil surfaces become more negatively charged and less hydrophobic. Under low salinity condition, strong electrical double layer and van der Waals repulsion inhibits the bubble-oil droplet contact. Introducing Ca2+ ions and surfactants leads to strong steric repulsion, preventing bubble-oil contact. This research has advanced our mechanistic understanding of how bubbles and oil droplets interact in aqueous systems and offers useful insights to modulate such interactions in oil production, water treatment and other interfacial processes.

An integrated modeling approach to predict critical flow rate for fines migration initiation in sandstone reservoirs and water-bearing formations

Fines migration causes formation damage in sandstone reservoirs and water-bearing subsurface formations. Several factors affect fines migration such as composition and salinity of permeating brine, flow rate, and system pH. Electrostatic forces of van der Waals attraction and electric double layer repulsion, gravitational force and hydrodynamic force all contribute to fines detachment and migration under certain conditions. The current research presents a new integrated model of electrostatic, gravitational, and hydrodynamic forces to estimate the critical injection rate of NaCl brine for fines migration initiation in subsurface formations.The DLVO modeling approach was modified by considering electrostatic, hydrodynamic, and gravitational forces. Parameters such as injection brine salinity, average fine particle size, and zeta potential of sand-brine systems were used, and effective forces were quantified. A microscopic force and torque balance approach was applied to model hydrodynamic forces to modify the DLVO model. The developed models were validated with experimental results.The profiles of injection velocity versus fine particle radius were generated and the models predicted critical flow rates of 0.9, 2.6, and 3.8 cc/min for 0.15 M, 0.2 M, and 0.25 M NaCl, respectively. For model validation, the coreflood experiments were performed on Berea sandstone core samples under given salinities and critical flow rates were determined. Comparable experimental results were obtained with critical flow rates of 1, 3, and 4 cc/min for 0.15 M, 0.2 M, and 0.25 M NaCl, respectively. In addition, sensitivity analysis assesses the impact of different forces on the fines migration phenomenon.Formation damage caused by fines migration is a well-documented problem in sandstone reservoirs and water-bearing formations. Regulating the injection/ permeating fluid rate and salinity can avoid fines migration and associated permeability impairment. Our study presents a novel approach incorporating electrostatic, gravitational, and hydrodynamic forces to accurately predict fines mobilization in fine-containing subsurface formations.

Single bubble probe atomic force microscope and impinging-jet technique unravel the interfacial interactions controlled by long chain fatty acid in anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion of lipid-rich wastewater generally suffers from foaming induced by long chain fatty acid (LCFA). However, a systematic understanding of LCFA inhibition, especially the physical inhibition on interfacial interaction still remains unclear. Here, we combined bubble probe atomic force microscope and impinging-jet technique to unravel the interfacial interactions controlled by long chain fatty acids in anaerobic digestion. We showed that LCFA had a significant inhibition on methane production in anaerobic reactors for the inhibition of the conversion of VFAs to methane. By measuring the LCFA influence on methanogenic archaea Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A, the results demonstrated that methanogenesis was limited for substrates utilization but not metabolic pathways. The impinging-jet technique results indicated that LCFA enhanced bubble separation from anaerobic granules and reduced the bubble-bubble coalescence probability. In addition, the bubble probe atomic force microscope (AFM) revealed that LCFA enhanced the adhesion force between bubbles by enhancing electrical double layer (EDL) repulsion and decreasing hydrophobic interactions. Overall, these results complement framework of LCFA inhibition in anerobic digestion and provide a nanomechanical insight into the fundamental interfacial interactions related to bubbles in anaerobic reactors.

Effects of water chemistry on microfabric and micromechanical properties evolution of coastal sediment: A centrifugal model study

Water chemistry alteration induced strength weakening of natural sediment, which leads to the differential settlement of infrastructures in coastal areas, has caused numerous disasters and engineering failures. To thoroughly understand the underlying mechanisms of how water chemistry influences the microfabric and mechanical properties evolution of coastal sediments, herein, the authors adopted centrifuge test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscope (AFM) to quantitatively study the structure anisotropy index (i.e., orientation index (OI)), micromorphological property (i.e., root mean square height (Sq)), and micromechanics (i.e., microscale apparent modulus) of clay sediments in different water chemistry conditions and gravity gradients. The results show that the change rule of OI is: OIsaline > OIalkaline > OIwater > OIacid, along the vertical sedimentary depth. Randomly distributed clay flocs and loose flocculated soil skeleton (mainly consisted by edge-to-face (EF) and edge-to-edge (EE) contact of the kaolinite platelets) are associated with the acidic water chemical conditions. The action of supergravity and face-to-face (FF) repulsive contact mode lead to high degree of anisotropy of kaolinite sediments in alkaline environment. Clay platelets are compacted closely under the synergetic effect of centrifugal pressure and prevailing van der Waals attraction (reduction of electric double layer repulsion) in saline environment. The change of 1/Sq is highly consistent with the change of OI at different depths in different water chemical environments. Along the sedimentary depth (i.e., transition from the normal gravity (1 g) to supergravity (8000 g)), the microscale apparent modulus of kaolinite sediment was found to be the highest in alkaline environment. As the water chemistry changes from alkaline to acidic, however, the microscale apparent modulus of kaolinite aggregate decreased, and it showed the smallest in the saline environment.

Presence, origins and effect of stable surface hydration on regenerated cellulose for underwater oil-repellent membranes

HypothesisUnderwater oil-repellency of polyelectrolyte brushes has been attributed mainly to electric double-layer repulsion forces based on Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. Many non-polyelectrolyte materials also exhibit oil-repellent behaviour, but it is not clear if there exist similar electric double-layer repulsion and if it is the sole mechanism governing their underwater oil-repellency. Experiments/simulationsIn this article, the oil-repellency of highly amorphous cellulose exhibiting is investigated in detail, through experiments and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS). FindingsIt was found that the stable surface hydration on regenerated cellulose was due to a combination of long-range electrostatic repulsions (DLVO theory) and short-range interfacial hydrogen bonding between cellulose and water molecules (as revealed by MDS). The presence of a stable water layer of about 200 nm thick (similar to that of polyelectrolyte brushes) was confirmed. Such stable surface hydration effectively separates cellulose surface from oil droplets, resulting in extremely low adhesion between them. As a demonstration of its practicality, regenerated cellulose membranes were fabricated via electrospinning, and they exhibit high oil/water separation efficiencies (including oil-in-water emulsions) as well as self-cleaning ability.

Relationship between soil erodibility by concentrated flow and shear strength of a Haplic Acrisol with a cationic polyelectrolyte

To clarify the relationship between rill erodibility in an excess shear stress model for concentrated flow erosion and soil particle–particle interactions, we examined the rill erodibility and aggregation-dispersion behavior of Shimajiri Maaji soil, classified as a Haplic Acrisol, with different amounts of cationic polyelectrolyte poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC). The effect of particle–particle interaction on rill erodibility was determined by performing shear strength measurements and rill erosion experiments as a function of the PDADMAC dose without changing other soil conditions. Moreover, the mechanisms of particle–particle interactions were examined by comparing the electrophoretic mobility (EPM) with the transmission of the supernatant of the soil suspension and soil shear strength. The EPM and transmission showed that the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) interaction governed the aggregation-dispersion behavior. At the same time, the shear strength monotonically increased with increasing PDADMAC dose, even when charge reversal and electric double layer (EDL) repulsion occurred. This result suggests that the shear strength is sensitive not only to the EDL interaction but also to the interactions, the so-called non-DLVO forces, such as bridging interaction. The difference between transmission and shear strength should be due to the difference in the characteristic length because the transmission is attributed to the collision/approaching process between particles, whereas the shear strength is attributed to the broken/retracting process of particle–particle contact. Rill erodibility decreased with increasing shear strength. Furthermore, our quantitative analysis demonstrated that rill erodibility can be represented by a linear function of shear strength. These results clearly show that a high attractive force between soil particles results in low rill erodibility. The strong particle–particle attraction protects soil particles from peeling off by increasing the shear stress of the flowing water. Our study suggests that shear strength measurement can be used to quickly estimate the effect of soil conditioners on rill erodibility in the field.

The role of small separation interactions in ferrofluid structure

Interparticle interactions in colloids are traditionally modeled by means of the DLVO theory, which includes van der Waals and electrical double layer (EDL) interactions However, the validity range limitations become critical in biocompatible magnetic colloids, requiring a more detailed description of the interactions, especially at small intersurface separations. As magnetic colloids, ferrofluids require an extended DLVO (XDLVO) model that includes magnetic interactions. Moreover, the nanoparticles of biocompatible ferrofluids are usually ionic-surfacted, such that their charged surfactants interact both electrically and sterically. In some of such particles, the charge is usually not located at the surface, but at the outer extremities of the surfactant molecules, and this feature restricts the EDL model validity to larger separation distances. We addressed this problem by means of a model proposed by Schnitzer and Morozov, which employs a generalized Derjaguin approximation that makes the EDL repulsion expression valid for all separations. The van der Waals expression of the DLVO theory is also problematic because it shows an unphysical divergence as the intersurface separation tends to zero, a problem that was circumvented by replacing the expression at small separations with another expression based on cohesion energy and the Born-Mayer repulsion. The modifications proposed here are of interest for research on colloids in general and our Monte Carlo simulations show that they acquire even greater importance when it comes to ferrofluids. The influence of magnetic interparticle interactions on the colloid structure is better gauged using these modifications, which prevent magnetic interactions from being obfuscated by artificially large van der Waals and EDL interactions. This conclusion makes the small separation treatment particularly important for the study of magnetic colloids.

Spindle-like-aggregating behavior of hydroxyapatite nanorods in polyacrylic acid aqueous system

The aggregating behavior of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanorods plays a central role in the mechanism of biomimetic mineralization. In this study, the spindle-like aggregating behavior of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanorods was studied by ultrasonically dispersing HAP in a polyacrylic acid (PAA) aqueous system. Unlike the quick aggregation and precipitation of HAP nanorods without PAA, the spindle-like primary aggregations formed herein could be suspended in water with good stability. The preferential adsorption of PAA on the side surface of HAP nanorods generated steric repulsion opposite to the van der Waals interaction in the radial direction. Accordingly, with an increase in the molar ratio of PAA[-COOH-]/HAP, the HAP nanorods showed a tendency to form spindle-like primary aggregations with decreased diameter and increased aspect ratio. The resulting aggregates possessed sufficient repulsion (steric repulsion and electric double layer repulsion) to overcome van der Waals interactions to remain suspended and dispersed. This study revealed the mechanism of aggregating HAP nanorods into spindle-like aggregates by extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory, including the steric stabilization mode. We believe that this study will facilitate the ordered structuring of minerals in hard-tissue mineralization processes.

Enhancing oil recovery using silica nanoparticles: Nanoscale wettability alteration effects and implications for shale oil recovery

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques have the potential to improve recovery in unconventional shale oil reservoirs which have prolific short-term success but elusive near-to-long term outlook. The use of silicon dioxide nanoparticles for enhancing shale oil recovery has recently gained significant attention in the oil industry. However, the technique remains novel partly due to inadequate fundamental understanding of oil release mechanisms. Herein, the oil recovery potential of untreated and treated silica nanoparticles is investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM) by studying nanoscale interactions between different crude oil functional species and substrates of pure minerals found in a shale oil reservoir. Quartz and muscovite mica (clay substitute) were employed as substrates as these are the dominant rock minerals identified in the most productive zone of Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS). Thiolates of undecane (CH3) and phenyl (C6H5) compounds were used to simulate alkane and aromatic fractions of TMS crude oil respectively, while undecanoic acid (COOH) thiol was used to represent carboxylic acid found in asphaltene and resin components. Following our in-house experimental protocol for liquid cell force spectroscopy, adhesion forces and surface energies between functionalized AFM probes and mineral substrates were characterized in untreated and amino-treated silica nanoparticle dispersions. Zeta potential of respective nanofluid solutions was measured and AFM adsorption data were supported with scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of TMS rock samples. Results showed that aqueous dispersions of hydrophilic silicon dioxide nanoparticles promote wettability towards a less oil-wet state by significantly lowering the adhesion force and energy barrier to spontaneously detach oil molecules from clay and quartz mineral surfaces in shale reservoirs, shown at the nanoscale with AFM studies. However, the grafting of aminosilanes onto surfaces of silica nanoparticles generally increased adhesion forces and surface energies due to surface charge effect and hydrophobicity. Findings pertinent to nanoparticle silanization were consistent in molecular interactions on mica in nanofluids but not necessarily predictable with quartz surfaces, highlighting mineralogical effects. The irreversible adsorption of silica nanoparticles was also observed. Adhesion force and energy are resolved in various intermolecular forces such as electric double layer repulsion, non-electrostatic interaction and structural forces. The scientific significance and broad engineering implications of results were comprehensively discussed in the context of previously reported core-to-field scale observations of nanofluid EOR. This study pitches new light on the scientific understanding of silica-based nanofluid EOR by probing nanoscale wetting effects of silica nanoparticles with implications for shale oil recovery. The findings herein can help for better understanding of the design of nanofluid EOR reagents and the conditions that favor application of silica nanofluid EOR.

Specific Ion Effects on Aggregation and Charging Properties of Boron Nitride Nanospheres.

The charging and aggregation properties of boron nitride nanospheres (BNNSs) were investigated in the presence of electrolytes of different compositions and valences in aqueous suspensions. The influence of mono- and multivalent cations (counterions) and anions (coions) on the colloidal stability of the negatively charged particles was studied over a wide range of salt concentrations. For monovalent ions, similar trends were determined in the stability and charging of the particles irrespective of the salt composition, i.e., no ion-specific effects were observed. Once multivalent counterions were involved, the critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) decreased with the valence in line with the direct Schulze–Hardy rule. The dependence indicated an intermediate charge density for BNNSs. The influence of the coions on the CCCs was weaker and the destabilization ability followed the inverse Schulze–Hardy rule. The predominant interparticle forces were identified as electrical double-layer repulsion and van der Waals attraction. These findings offer useful information to design stable BNNS dispersions in various applications, where mono- and multivalent electrolytes or their mixtures are present in the samples.