Kinetics interface relaxation

The width of the relaxation zone R, which is the thickness of the kinetic interface , may differ considerably from other lengths characterizing other properties of an interface (e.g., space charge width, elastic deformation width). 

The Different Subjects OF Adsorption Kinetics AND Relaxations AT Interfaces... 

The techniques for characterizing the kinetics of electrode reactions can be classified into steady-state and transient methods. The steady-state methods involve the measurement of the current-potential relationships at constant current (galvanoslatic control) or constant potential (potentiostatic control) conditions and measuring the response, which is either the potential or the current after a steady state is achieved. The non-steady-state methods involve the perturbation of the system from an equilibrium or a steady-state condition, and follow the response of the system as a function of time using current, potential, charge, impedance, or any other accessible property of the interface. Relaxation methods are a subclass of perturbation methods. 

In photoluminescence one measures physical and chemical properties of materials by using photons to induce excited electronic states in the material system and analyzing the optical emission as these states relax. Typically, light is directed onto the sample for excitation, and the emitted luminescence is collected by a lens and passed through an optical spectrometer onto a photodetector. The spectral distribution and time dependence of the emission are related to electronic transition probabilities within the sample, and can be used to provide qualitative and, sometimes, quantitative information about chemical composition, structure (bonding, disorder, interfaces, quantum wells), impurities, kinetic processes, and energy transfer. 

In the right-hand part of Figure 10 are shown simulation results obtained by using the above kinetic equations and the rectangular cell model which divides the air/water interface into one hundred cells. In this simulation, the relative magnitudes of the rate of relaxation processes and the rate of compression were set up as follows. ... 

Due to the fast kinetics of adsorption/desorption reactions of inorganic ions at the oxide/aqueous interface, few mechanistic studies have been completed that allow a description of the elementary processes occurring (half lives < 1 sec). Over the past five years, relaxation techniques have been utilized in studying fast reactions taking place at electrified interfaces (1-7). In this paper we illustrate the type of information that can be obtained by the pressure-jump method, using as an example a study of Pb2+ adsorption/desorption at the goethite/water interface. 

Adsorption-Desorption Kinetics at the Metal-Oxide-Solution Interface Studied by Relaxation Methods... 

Chemical relaxation methods can be used to determine mechanisms of reactions of ions at the mineral/water interface. In this paper, a review of chemical relaxation studies of adsorption/desorption kinetics of inorganic ions at the metal oxide/aqueous interface is presented. Plausible mechanisms based on the triple layer surface complexation model are discussed. Relaxation kinetic studies of the intercalation/ deintercalation of organic and inorganic ions in layered, cage-structured, and channel-structured minerals are also reviewed. In the intercalation studies, plausible mechanisms based on ion-exchange and adsorption/desorption reactions are presented steric and chemical properties of the solute and interlayered compounds are shown to influence the reaction rates. We also discuss the elementary reaction steps which are important in the stereoselective and reactive properties of interlayered compounds. 

The fast reactions of ions between aqueous and mineral phases have been studied extensively in a variety of fields including colloidal chemistry, geochemistry, environmental engineering, soil science, and catalysis (1-6). Various experimental approaches and techniques have been utilized to address the questions of interest in any given field as this volume exemplifies. Recently, chemical relaxation techniques have been applied to study the kinetics of interaction of ions with minerals in aqueous suspension (2). These methods allow mechanistic information to be obtained for elementary processes which occur rapidly, e.g., for processes which occur within seconds to as fast as nanoseconds (j0. Many important phenomena can be studied including adsorption/desorption reactions of ions at electri fied interfaces and intercalation/deintercalation of ions with minerals having unique interlayer structure. 

Zhang, P.C. Sparks, D.L. (1989) Kinetics and mechanism of molybdate adsorption/desorp-tion at the goethite/water interface using pressure-jump relaxation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. 

Zhang, P.C. Sparks, D.L. (1990) Kinetics and mechanism of sulfate adsorption and desorption on goethite using pressure jump relaxation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 54 1266-1273 Zhang, P.C. Sparks, D.L. (1990) Kinetics of selenate and selenite adsorption/desorption at the goethite/water interface. Environ. Sci. Technol. 24 1848-1856... 

The structure of the double layer can be altered if there is interaction of concentration gradients, due to chemical reactions or diffusion processes, and the diffuse ionic double layer. These effects may be important in very fast reactions where relaxation techniques are used and high current densities flow through the interface. From the work of Levich, only in very dilute solutions and at electrode potentials far from the pzc are superposition of concentration gradients due to diffuse double layer and diffusion expected [25]. It has been found that, even at high current densities, no difficulties arise in the use of the equilibrium double layer conditions in the analysis of electrode kinetics, as will be discussed in Sect. 3.5. 

This is the kinetic equation for a simple A/AX interface model and illustrates the general approach. The critical quantity which will be discussed later in more detail is the disorder relaxation time, rR. Generally, the A/AX interface behaves under steady state conditions similar to electrodes which are studied in electrochemistry. However, in contrast to fluid electrolytes, the reaction steps in solids comprise inhomogeneous distributions of point defects, which build up stresses at the boundary on a small scale. Plastic deformation or even cracking may result, which in turn will influence drastically the further course of any interface reaction. 

In conclusion, we observe that the crossing of crystal phase boundaries by matter means the transfer of SE s from the sublattices of one phase (a) into the sublattices of another phase (/ ). Since this process disturbs the equilibrium distribution of the SE s, at least near the interface, it therefore triggers local SE relaxation processes. In more elaborated kinetic models of non-equilibrium interfaces, these relaxations have to be analyzed in order to obtain the pertinent kinetic equations and transfer rates. This will be done in Chapter 10. 

AC/ is known as the overpotential in the electrode kinetics of electrochemistry. Let us summarize the essence of this modeling. If we know the applied driving forces, the mobilities of the SE s in the various sublattices, and the defect relaxation times, we can derive the fluxes of the building elements across the interfaces. We see that the interface resistivity Rb - AC//(F-y0) stems, in essence, from the relaxation processes of the SE s (point defects). Rb depends on the relaxation time rR of the (chemical) processes that occur when building elements are driven across the boundary. In accordance with Eqn. (10.33), the flux j0 can be understood as the integral of the relaxation (recombination, production) rate /)(/)), taken over the width fR. 

To complete the set of kinetic equations we observe that ub = (A/ /Ac)b where Acb can be expressed in terms of <5 ,b. Finally, the requirement of mass conservation yields a further equation. Considering the inherent nonlinearities, this problem contains the possibility of oscillatory solutions as has been observed experimentally. Let us repeat the general conclusion. Reactions at moving boundaries are relaxation processes between regular and irregular SE s. Coupled with the transport in the untransformed and the transformed phases, the nonlinear problem may, in principle, lead to pulsating motions of the driven interfaces. 

In several previous papers, the possible existence of thermal anomalies was suggested on the basis of such properties as the density of water, specific heat, viscosity, dielectric constant, transverse proton spin relaxation time, index of refraction, infrared absorption, and others. Furthermore, based on other published data, we have suggested the existence of kinks in the properties of many aqueous solutions of both electrolytes and nonelectrolytes. Thus, solubility anomalies have been demonstrated repeatedly as have anomalies in such diverse properties as partial molal volumes of the alkali halides, in specific optical rotation for a number of reducing sugars, and in some kinetic data. Anomalies have also been demonstrated in a surface and interfacial properties of aqueous systems ranging from the surface tension of pure water to interfacial tensions (such as between n-hexane or n-decane and water) and in the surface tension and surface potentials of aqueous solutions. Further, anomalies have been observed in solid-water interface properties, such as the zeta potential and other interfacial parameters. 

The adsorption and desorption kinetics of surfactants, such as food emulsifiers, can be measured by the stress relaxation method [4]. In this, a "clean" interface, devoid of surfactants, is first formed by rapidly expanding a new drop to the desired size and, then, this size is maintained and the capillary pressure is monitored. Figure 2 shows experimental relaxation data for a dodecane/ aq. Brij 58 surfactant solution interface, at a concentration below the CMC. An initial rapid relaxation process is followed by a slower relaxation prior to achieving the equilibrium IFT. Initially, the IFT is high, - close to the IFT between the pure solvents. Then, the tension decreases because surfactants diffuse to the interface and adsorb, eventually reaching the equilibrium value. The data provide key information about the diffusion and adsorption kinetics of the surfactants, such as emulsifiers or proteins. 

Yasunaga, T., and Ikeda, T. (1986). Adsorption-desorption kinetics at the metal-oxide-solution interface studied by relaxation methods. ACS Symp. Ser. 323, 230-253. 

Ikeda, T., Sasaki, M., and Yasunaga, T. (1984b). Kinetic studies of ion exchange of NH7 in zeolite H-ZSM-5 by the chemical relaxation method. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 98, 192-195. 

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