Self-association Of Water Research Articles

Thermodiffusion of CO2 in Water by Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The components of a fluid mixture may segregate due to the Soret effect, a coupling phenomenon in which mass flux can be induced by a thermal gradient. In this work, we evaluate systematically the thermodiffusion of the CO2-H2O mixture, and the influence of the geothermal gradient on CO2 segregation in deep saline aquifers in CO2 storage. The eHeX method, a nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation approach, is judiciously selected to simulate the phenomenon. At 350 K, 400 bar, and CO2 mole fraction of 0.02 (aquifer conditions), CO2 accumulates on the cold side, and the thermal diffusion factor is close to 1 in a number of force fields. The lower the temperature, the higher is the separation and the thermal diffusion factor. In colder regions, water self-association is stronger, whereas the CO2-H2O cross-association and the CO2-CO2 interactions enhance at higher temperatures. Thermodiffusion and gravitational segregation have opposite effects on CO2 segregation. At typical subsurface conditions, the Soret effect is more pronounced than gravity segregation, and CO2 concentrates in the top (colder region). Our work sets the stage to model the effect of electrolytes on CO2 segregation in subsurface aquifers and other areas of interest.

Preparation of hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol)-containing amphiphilic diblock copolymers and their self-association in water

Preparation of hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol)-containing amphiphilic diblock copolymers and their self-association in water

Thermodynamic modeling of aqueous lithium salt solutions with association electrolyte nonrandom two-liquid activity coefficient model

The high charge density of lithium ion and the resulting strong association phenomena make thermodynamic modeling of aqueous lithium electrolyte solutions extremely challenging. In this study, the association electrolyte nonrandom two-liquid activity coefficient model of Lin et al. (AIChE J. 2022, 68(2), e17422) is utilized to correlate and predict thermodynamic properties and solubility behavior of aqueous single electrolyte solutions of LiCl, LiBr, LiI, and LiNO3, and their mixed electrolyte solutions. Capturing self-association of water, cross-association of ion and water for hydration, and cross-association of cation and anion for ion-pairing, the association model accurately represents the literature experimental data up to saturation concentrations and at the temperature ranging from 263 K to 523 K. This study further investigated the effect of anions of the lithium salts, and re-confirmed that the order of solution non-ideality as LiI > LiBr > LiCl > LiNO3 because the anions with stronger association strengths are more likely to form ion pairs and thus lower the mean ionic activity coefficients.

Dipolar Dispersion Forces in Water-Methanol Mixtures: Enhancement of Water Interactions upon Dilution Drives Self-Association.

Mixtures of short-chain alcohols and water produce anomalous thermodynamic and structural quantities, including molecular segregation into water-rich and alcohol-rich components. Herein, we used molecular dynamics simulations with polarizable models to investigate interactions that could drive the self-association of water molecules in mixtures with methanol (MeOH). As water was diluted with MeOH, significant changes in the distribution of molecules and solvation properties occurred, where water exhibited a clear preference for self-association. When common structural quantities were analyzed, it was found that there was a clear reduction in water-water hydrogen bonding and tetrahedral order (both in terms of typical bulk behavior), contrary to the observed water self-association. However, when dipolar dispersion forces between all molecules as a function of system composition were analyzed, it was found that water-water dipolar interactions became significantly stronger with dilution (6-fold stronger interaction in 75% MeOH compared to 0% MeOH). This was only observed for water, where MeOH-MeOH interactions became weaker as the systems were more dilute in MeOH. These forces result from specific dipole orientations, likely occurring to adopt lower energy configurations (i.e., head-to-tail or antiparallel). For water, this may result from lost other interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding), leading to more rotational freedom between the dipole moments. These intriguing changes in dipolar interactions, which directly result from structural changes, can therefore explain, in part, the driving force for water self-association in MeOH-water mixtures.

Predicted Mutual Solubilities in Water + C5-C12 Hydrocarbon Systems. Results at 298 K

Mutual solubilities of water with n-alkanes, cycloalkanes, iso-alkanes (branched alkanes), alkenes, alkynes, alkadienes, and alkylbenzenes were calculated at 298 K for 153 systems not yet measured. Recommended data for 64 systems reported in the literature were compared with the predicted values. The solubility of the hydrocarbons in water was calculated with a thermodynamically based equation, which depends on specific properties of the hydrocarbon. The concentration in the second coexisting liquid phase (water in hydrocarbon) was calculated using liquid-liquid equilibrium with an equation of state, which takes into account the self-association of water and co-association of water with π-bonds of the hydrocarbons.

Chirality affects cholesterol-oxysterol association in water, a computational study

Cholesterol (Chol) is the most prevalent sterol in the animal kingdom and an indispensable component of mammalian cell membranes. Chol content in the membrane is strictly controlled, although the oxidation of phospholipids may change the relative content of membrane Chol. An excess of it results in the formation of pure Chol microdomains in the membrane. It is likely that some Chol molecules detach from the domains and self-assemble in the aqueous environment. This may promote Chol microcrystallisation, which initiates the development of gallstones and atherosclerotic plaque. In this study, the molecular dynamics, free energy perturbation, umbrella sampling and Voronoi diagram methods are used to reveal the details of self-association of Chol and its oxidised forms (oxChol), namely 7α,β-hydroxycholesterol and 7α,β-hydroperoxycholesterol, in water. In the first part of the study the interactions between a sterol monomer and water over a short and longer timescale as well as the energy of hydration of each sterol are analysed. This helps one to understand Chol-Chol and Chol-OxChol with different chirality self-association in water better, which is analysed in the second part of the study. The Voronoi diagram approach is used to determine the relative arrangement of molecules in the dimer and, most importantly, to analyse the dehydration of the contacting surfaces of the assembling molecules. Free energy calculations indicate that Chol and 7β-hydroxycholesterol associate into the most stable dimer and that Chol-Chol is the next most stable of the five dimers studied. Employing different computational methods enables us to obtain an adequate picture of Chol-sterol self-association in water, which includes dynamic, energetic and temporal aspects of the process.

Microwave Detection of Wet Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP): Non-Covalent Forces and Water Dynamics.

The water adducts of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) have been observed by using broadband rotational spectroscopy. This work opens a new way for the gas-phase detection of this improvised explosive. The observed clusters exhibit unusual water dynamics and rarely observed multicenter interactions. TATP-H2 O is formed from the D3 symmetry conformer of TATP with water lying close to the C3 axis. Water rotation around this axis with a very low barrier gives rise to the rotational spectrum of a symmetric top. The main interaction of the monohydrate is a four-center trifurcated donor Ow -H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bond, not observed previously in the gas phase, reinforced by a weak four-center trifurcated acceptor C-H⋅⋅⋅Ow interaction. Surprisingly, all structural signatures show the weakness of these interactions. The complex TATP-(H2 O)2 is formed from the monohydrated TATP by the self-association of water.

Sequence Changes Modulate Peptoid Self-Association in Water

Peptoids, N-substituted glycine oligomers, are a class of diverse and sequence-specific peptidomimetics with wide-ranging applications. Advancing the functional repertoire of peptoids to emulate native peptide and protein functions requires engineering peptoids that adopt regular secondary and tertiary structures. An understanding of how changes to peptoid sequence change structural features, particularly in water-soluble systems, is underdeveloped. To address this knowledge gap, five 15-residue water-soluble peptoids that include naphthalene-functionalized side chains were designed, prepared, and subjected to a structural study using a palette of techniques. Peptoid sequence designs were based on a putative amphiphilic helix peptoid bearing structure-promoting (S)-N-(1-naphthylethyl)glycine residues whose self-association in water has been studied previously. New peptoid variants reported here include sequence changes that influenced peptoid conformational flexibility, functional group patterning (amphiphilicity), and hydrophobicity. Peptoid structures were evaluated and compared using circular dichroism spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and size exclusion chromatography. Spectral data confirmed that sequence changes alter peptoids' degree of assembly and the organization of self-assembled structures in aqueous solutions. Insights gained in these studies will inform the design of new water-soluble peptoids with regular structural features, including desirable higher-order (tertiary and quaternary) structural features.

A statistical geometry analysis of simulated water- DMSO and water-MeCN binary mixtures for biomolecular studies

Water-Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and water-Acetonitrile (MeCN) binary mixtures at various molar ratios ranging from 0 to 1 are studied using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Hydration properties of water in different regions of MeCN/DMSO are investigated by using the statistical geometry approach. The obtained results reveal that in water-DMSO simulations both water and solvent molecules prefer to be in mixed cluster forms, depending upon the concentration of DMSO. While in case of water-MeCN mixtures, self-association of water and acetonitrile molecules, take place, showing microheterogeneity associated with the water- MeCN binary mixtures. The results highlight the utility of statistical geometric analysis of MD simulation data of binary liquid mixtures for rapid screening of polar organic solvents in non-aqueous enzymology.

Structure and Dynamics in Formamide-(H2O)3: A Water Pentamer Analogue.

Water self-association dominates the formation of microsolvated molecular clusters which may give rise to complex structures resembling those of pure water clusters. We present a rotational study of the complex formamide-(H2O)3 formed in a supersonic jet and several monosubstituted isotopologues. Formamide and water molecules form a four-body sequential cycle through N-H···O, O-H···O, and O-H···O═C hydrogen bonds, resulting in a chiral structure with a nonplanar skeleton that can be overlapped to that of water pentamer. The analysis of the 14N-nucleus quadrupole coupling effects shows the depletion of the electron density of the N atom lone pair with respect to the bare formamide that affects the amide group C-N and C═O distances. The study of the observed tunneling doublets shows that formamide-(H2O)3 follows a path to invert its structure driven by the flipping of water subunits and passing through successive nonplanar configurations, a motion reminiscent of the pseudorotation of water pentamer.

Interactions in Water-Ionic Liquid Mixtures: Comparing Protic and Aprotic Systems.

The sensitivity of ionic liquids (ILs) to water affects their physical and chemical properties, even at relatively low concentrations, yet the structural thermodynamics of protic IL- (PIL-) water systems at low water concentrations still remains unclear. Using the rigorous Kirkwood-Buff theory of solutions, which can quantify the interactions between species in IL-water systems solely from thermodynamic data, we have shown the following: (1) Between analogous protic and aprotic ILs (AILs), the AIL cholinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([Ch][NTf2]) shows stronger interactions with water at low water concentrations, with the analogous PIL N,N-dimethylethanolammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([DMEtA][NTf2]) having stronger water-ion interactions at higher water contents, despite water-ion interactions weakening with increasing water content in both systems. (2) Water has little effect on the average ion-ion interactions in both protic and aprotic ILs, aside from the AIL [Ch][NTf2], which shows a strengthening of ion-ion interactions with increasing water content. (3) Self-association of water in both PIL-water systems leading to the presence of large aggregates of water in IL-rich compositions has been inferred. Water-water interactions in [DMEtA][NTf2] were found to be similar to those of dialkylimidazolium AILs, whereas these interactions were much larger in the PIL N,N-dimethylethanolammonium propionate ([DMEtA][Pr]), attributed to the change in anion-water interactions.

Sucrose Solubility in Binary Liquid Mixtures Formed by Water–Methanol, Water–Ethanol, and Methanol–Ethanol at 303 and 313 K

This work presents a study of solid–liquid equilibrium of sucrose in three different binary liquid mixtures, methanol–ethanol, methanol–water, and ethanol–water for the temperatures of 303 and 313 K covering the whole composition range of the binary liquid solution. The data are presented as a function of the dielectric constant of the binary liquid mixture taking into account the self-association of water and alcohol. From a dissolution phenomenon standpoint, it seems that the temperature is more important than the dielectric constant of the binary liquid solution for the solubility mechanism. For each temperature, it was observed that the sucrose solubility is directly proportional to the dielectric constant of the binary liquid mixture.

Heat of mixing and liquid–liquid-equilibrium of water + polypropylene glycol (PPG) with different molecular weights and water + propylene glycol dimethyl ether

Polypropylene glycols (PPG) are widely used in a large variety of different fields, e.g. polyurethane formulations, rheology, surfactant, wetting agent, dispersant in leather finishing, pharmacy, and tissue engineering, where polymers with different molecular weights are employed. Therefore, the phase behavior in aqueous solutions plays an important role. For thermodynamic models able to describe the phase behavior, especially the liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE), the occurring association phenomena are very significant. The purpose of this work is the analysis of detailed association models taking into account self-association of water, self-association of polymer and cross-associations. Starting from a general association scheme of hydrogen bonds two models (model 2 and model 3) were derived and investigated with regard to the performance of correlating LLE data as well heat of mixing data, simultaneously. In model 2 identical associations between water to ether-oxygen and water to hydroxyl end-group are considered and in model 3 identical associations between water to hydroxyl end-group and hydroxyl end-group to water are established. The extrapolation power related to phase equilibria or heat of mixing data not involved in the parameter fitting procedure of the two models were analyzed carefully. Finally, the prediction power were studied by application of the adjusted parameters to a slightly different system, namely the LLE of 1,2-dimethoxypropane and water mixtures. It turns out, that the model can predict the LLE of 1,2-dimethoxypropane and water in fair agreement with new data measured in this work.

Mixing enthalpy and liquid–liquid equilibrium of aqueous polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is one of the most important polymers in pharmaceutical or medical applications at room or at body temperature, where polymers with different chain lengths are employed. The purpose of this work is the analysis of a detailed association model taking into account self-association of water, self-association of polymer and cross-association. The model is applied in two different versions (model 1 without end-group effects and model 2 with end-group effects) to the correlation and prediction of liquid–liquid equilibria (LLEs), mixing enthalpies and hydration numbers of PEG in an aqueous solution. The required model parameters are estimated by fitting selected LLE data at high temperatures and some data points for the mixing enthalpy at low temperatures. The optimised set of parameters is used to predict simultaneously the effect of the polymer molecular weight on miscibility, the mixing enthalpy as a function of chain length and temperature as well as the number of hydration as a function of molecular weight and temperature. The obtained results were in fair agreement with experimental data from the literature. Additionally, some new mixing enthalpies were measured using isothermal titration calorimetry.

Controlled Surface Chemistry of Diamond/β-SiC Composite Films for Preferential Protein Adsorption

Diamond and SiC both process extraordinary biocompatible, electronic, and chemical properties. A combination of diamond and SiC may lead to highly stable materials, e.g., for implants or biosensors with excellent sensing properties. Here we report on the controllable surface chemistry of diamond/β-SiC composite films and its effect on protein adsorption. For systematic and high-throughput investigations, novel diamond/β-SiC composite films with gradient composition have been synthesized using the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique. As revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the diamond/β-SiC ratio of the composite films shows a continuous change from pure diamond to β-SiC over a length of ∼ 10 mm on the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was employed to unveil the surface termination of chemically oxidized and hydrogen treated surfaces. The surface chemistry of the composite films was found to depend on diamond/β-SiC ratio and the surface treatment. As observed by confocal fluorescence microscopy, albumin and fibrinogen were preferentially adsorbed from buffer: after surface oxidation, the proteins preferred to adsorb on diamond rather than on β-SiC, resulting in an increasing amount of proteins adsorbed to the gradient surfaces with increasing diamond/β-SiC ratio. By contrast, for hydrogen-treated surfaces, the proteins preferentially adsorbed on β-SiC, leading to a decreasing amount of albumin adsorbed on the gradient surfaces with increasing diamond/β-SiC ratio. The mechanism of preferential protein adsorption is discussed by considering the hydrogen bonding of the water self-association network to OH-terminated surfaces and the change of the polar surface energy component, which was determined according to the van Oss method. These results suggest that the diamond/β-SiC gradient film can be a promising material for biomedical applications which require good biocompatibility and selective adsorption of proteins and cells to direct cell migration.

Sucrose–water mixture: From thermodynamics to solution structure

What is the structure of sucrose–water mixture? I employ an exact statistical thermodynamic theory (Kirkwood–Buff theory) to calculate information regarding sucrose–water, water–water and sucrose–sucrose interactions solely from volumetric and osmometric data. We found that (i) Long-ranged hydration structure, beyond the first hydration shell, influences thermodynamics; (ii) The inferred minimum of the activity coefficient of water at the high sucrose concentration is due to the increases in the self association of water. These findings from a rigorous theory are consistent with previous simulation studies.

Direct Filament Formation of Biological Carbon Nanotube Suspensions

In this study, aqueous carbon nanotube (CNT) suspensions were prepared using biological surfactant of sodium deoxycholate (NaDC). The influence of NaDC concentration on the NaDC self-association in water and the rheological responses of the NaDC-CNT-water system were investigated. It has been found that the yield stress of the suspension increased with NaDC concentration, which was strongly related to the NaDC self-association of lyotropic liquid crystals. Due to the enhanced rheological properties at high NaDC concentration (30%), it allowed the shear-induced filament formation in which the CNTs were aligned along to the shear direction. This filament formation may be attractive for transferring aligned CNTs on substrates in a controlled manner.

Self-Association of a Thermosensitive Poly(alkyl-2-oxazoline) Block Copolymer in Aqueous Solution

We have investigated the heat-induced self-association in water of a block copolymer (PIPOZ-b-PEOZ) comprising two thermosensitive blocks: a poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) block (degree of polymerization 71) and a poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) block (degree of polymerization 38) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), static light scattering (SLS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) together with visual observation on the macroscopic and microscopic scales. The dehydration temperatures of the PIPOZ and PEOZ blocks in water are 43 and 54 °C, respectively. When heated abruptly to 50 °C where PIPOZ-b-PEOZ is amphiphilic, the copolymer first forms star micelles that further aggregate to form large concentrated phase droplets, and finally the droplets coalesce into a bulk liquid phase, having a copolymer concentration as high as 0.8 g/cm3. When heated abruptly to 70 °C, where both blocks are hydrophobic, the copolymer solution also separates into two liquid phases, consis...

Structure, dynamics and vibrational spectrum of supercritical CO2/H2O mixtures from ab initio molecular dynamics as a function of water cluster formation

In this study, we investigate the effect of water-cluster formation in the supercritical (SC) systems CO(2)/(H(2)O)(n) as a function of water content using DFT-based molecular dynamics simulations. The dependence of the intermolecular and intramolecular structure and dynamic properties upon water concentration in the supercritical CO(2)/H(2)O phase at a density of 0.74 g cm(-3) and temperature of 318.15 K is investigated in detail and compared to previous studies of the pure sc-CO(2) system, single D(2)O in sc-CO(2), and Monte-Carlo simulations of a single water molecule in sc-CO(2) phase. Analysis of radial and orientational distribution functions of the intermolecular interactions shows that the presence of water molecules does not disturb the previously established distorted T-shaped orientation of CO(2) molecules, though there is evidence of perturbation of the second shell structure which enhances the preference for the slipped parallel orientation in this region. There is also evidence of short-lived hydrogen bonds between CO(2) and water molecules. For higher water concentrations, water clustering is observed, consistent with the low solubility of water in CO(2) under these conditions of temperature and pressure. Finally, the water-water and water-CO(2) interactions are discussed and analyzed in terms of the water self-association and thermodynamic quantities derived from the molecular dynamics simulations.

Carbohydrate−Carbohydrate Interaction Prominence in 3D Supramolecular Self-Assembly

Self-association in water of biologically significant carbohydrate molecules is a controversial topic due to the strong solvation of these molecules in this solvent and the difficulty to experimentally detect these very weak intermolecular forces by biophysical techniques. Herein we report the tremendous ability of amphiphilic carbohydrate molecules to form complex three-dimensional architectures. We have experimentally observed the 3D self-assembly into multilayers of disaccharide neoglycolipid dimers on graphite by means of noncontact AFM and we have also theoretically modeled the interaction between two dimers in order to learn about the structure and composition of these layers. A simple bilayer structure as observed for many amphiphilic lipids was discarded by the experiments. Instead, based on the good agreement between experiments and calculations, we propose that multilayer formation takes place through the assembly of building blocks consisting of two dimers each. The fundamental key in the formation of this supramolecular structure is the complementarity between the van der Waals surfaces of the amphiphilic carbohydrate molecules, a result which differs from the most common idea that H-bonding interactions are prominent in carbohydrate-mediated interactions.