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Electric Field’s Dueling Effects through Dehydration and Ion Separation in Driving NaCl Nucleation at Charged Nanoconfined Interfaces

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c16419· OSTI ID:3005752
 [1];  [2]
  1. University of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
  2. University of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States); University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing, Bethesda, MD (United States)
Investigating nucleation in charged nanoconfined environments under electric fields is crucial for many scientific and engineering applications. Here we study the nucleation of NaCl from aqueous solution near charged surfaces using machine-learning-augmented enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations. Our simulations successfully drive phase transitions between the liquid and solid phases of NaCl. The solid phase is stabilized under electric fields, particularly at an intermediate surface charge density. We examine which physical characteristics drive the nucleation of NaCl from aqueous solutions and find that the removal of solvent water from Cl– at the solid precursor surface plays a more critical role than the accumulation of ions. Our simulations reveal the competing effects of electric fields on nucleation processes: they facilitate the removal of water, promoting nucleation, but also promote the separation of ion pairs, thereby hindering nucleation. Here, this work provides a framework for studying nucleation processes in nanoconfined environments under electric fields and provides physical insights for the design of electrochemistry materials.
Research Organization:
University of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0021009
OSTI ID:
3005752
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 3003389
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 147; ISSN 0002-7863; ISSN 1520-5126
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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