Effect of Perfluorinated Side-Chain Length on the Morphology, Hydrophobicity, and Stability of Xerogel Coatings

Superhydrophobic surfaces can be quickly formed with supramolecular materials. Incorporating low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) with perfluorinated chains generates xerogel coatings with low surface energies and high roughness. Here, we examine and compare the properties of the xerogel coatings formed with eight different LMWGs. These LMWGs all have a trans-1,2-diamidocyclohexane core and two perfluorinated ponytails, whose lengths vary from three to ten carbon atoms (CF3 to CF10). Investigation of the xerogels aims to provide in-depth information on the chain length effect. LMWGs with a higher degree of fluorination (CF7 to CF10) form superhydrophobic xerogel coatings with very low surface energies. Scanning electron microscopy images of the coatings show that the aggregates of CF5 and CF7 are fibrous, while the others are crystal-like. Aggregates of CF10 are particularly small and further assemble into a porous structure on the micrometer scale. To test their stabilities, the xerogel coatings were flushed multiple times with a standardized water flush test. The removal of material from the surface in these flushes was monitored by a combination of the water contact angle, contact angle hysteresis, and coating thickness measurements. A new method based on image processing techniques was developed to reliably determine the change of the coating thickness. The CF7, CF9, and CF10 surfaces show consistent hydrophobicity and coating durability after repetitive flushing tests. The length of the perfluorinated side chains thus has a significant effect on the morphology of the deposited xerogel coatings, their roughness, and, in consequence, their hydrophobicity and mechanical durability

A Comprehensive Methodology for Monitoring Evaporitic Mineral Precipitation and Hydrochemical Evolution of Saline Lakes: The Case of Lake Magadi Soda Brine (East African Rift Valley, Kenya)

Lake Magadi, East African Rift Valley, is a hyperalkaline and saline soda lake highly enriched in Na+, K+, CO32–, Cl–, HCO3–, and SiO2 and depleted in Ca2+ and Mg2+, where thick evaporite deposits and siliceous sediments have been forming for 100 000 years. The hydrogeochemistry and the evaporite deposits of soda lakes are subjects of growing interest in paleoclimatology, astrobiology, and planetary sciences. In Lake Magadi, different hydrates of sodium carbonate/bicarbonate and other saline minerals precipitate. The precipitation sequence of these minerals is a key for understanding the hydrochemical evolution, the paleoenvironmental conditions of ancient evaporite deposits, and industrial crystallization. However, accurate determination of the precipitation sequence of these minerals was challenging due to the dependency of the different hydrates on temperature, water activity, pH and pCO2, which could induce phase transformation and secondary mineral precipitation during sample handling. Here, we report a comprehensive methodology applied for monitoring the evaporitic mineral precipitation and hydrochemical evolution of Lake Magadi. Evaporation and mineral precipitations were monitored by using in situ video microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction of acoustically levitated droplets. The mineral patterns were characterized by ex situ Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Experiments were coupled with thermodynamic models to understand the evaporation and precipitation-driven hydrochemical evolution of brines. Our results closely reproduced the mineral assemblages, patterns, and textural relations observed in the natural setting. Alkaline earth carbonates and fluorite were predicted to precipitate first followed by siliceous sediments. Among the salts, dendritic and acicular trona precipitate first via fractional crystallizationreminiscent of grasslike trona layers of Lake Magadi. Halite/villiaumite, thermonatrite, and sylvite precipitate sequentially after trona from residual brines depleted in HCO3–. The precipitation of these minerals between trona crystals resembles the precipitation process observed in the interstitial brines of the trona layers. Thermonatrite precipitation began after trona equilibrated with the residual brines due to the absence of excess CO2 input. We have shown that evaporation and mineral precipitation are the major drivers for the formation of hyperalkaline, saline, and SiO2-rich brines. The discrepancy between predicted and actual sulfate and phosphate ion concentrations implies the biological cycling of these ions. The combination of different in situ and ex situ methods and modeling is key to understanding the mineral phases, precipitation sequences, and textural relations of modern and ancient evaporite deposits. The synergy of these methods could be applicable in industrial crystallization and natural brines to reconstruct the hydrogeochemical and hydroclimatic conditions of soda lakes, evaporite settings, and potentially soda oceans of early Earth and extraterrestrial planets

Supporting Information for A Comprehensive Methodology for Monitoring Evaporitic Mineral Precipitation and Hydrochemical Evolution of Saline Lakes: The Case of Lake Magadi Soda Brine (East African Rift Valley, Kenya)

Backscattered electron micrographs and elemental maps of mineral precipitates, plots showing amount of minerals predicted to precipitate and resulting hydrochemical evolution during Lake Magadi evaporation in the presence of phosphate and fluoride ions; video microscopy of overall evolution of precipitation during evaporation of a single droplet on glass slide; video microscopy of evaporation and precipitation on the border of a droplet; video microscopy of precipitation process on the border of the droplet marked with red rectangle in Video S2; video microscopy showing details of precipitation process at centers of droplets</p

Remarkable Infrared Nonlinear Optical, Dielectric, and Strong Diamagnetic Characteristics of Semiconducting K₃[BiS₃]

The ternary sulfido bismuthate K3[BiS3] is synthesized in quantitative yields. The material exhibits nonlinear optical properties with strong second harmonic generation properties at arbitrary wavelengths in the infrared spectral range and a notable laser-induced damage threshold of 5.22 GW cm–2 for pulsed laser radiation at a wavelength of 1040 nm, a pulse duration of 180 fs, and a repetition rate of 12.5 kHz. K3[BiS3] indicates semiconductivity with a direct optical band gap of 2.51 eV. Dielectric and impedance characterizations demonstrate κ values in the range of 6–13 at 1 kHz and a high electrical resistivity. A strong diamagnetic behavior with a susceptibility of −2.73 × 10–4 m3 kg–1 at room temperature is observed. These results suggest it is a promising nonlinear optical candidate for the infrared region. The synergic physical characteristics of K3[BiS3] provide insight into the correlation of optical, electrical, and magnetic properties