Molecular Controls of Hematite-CO2 Interactions on Particles with Well-Defined Crystal Planes
EMSL Project ID
39950
Abstract
This work was devised to contribute to a new basis of understanding of mineral surface reactivity through the used of well-defined surfaces. As it is primordially focused on the reactivity of hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) towards CO2, it also addresses key issues of atmospheric and geochemical importance. Our work will specifically be focused on reacting H2O and CO2 with (1) multi-faceted colloidal-sized particles of various aspect ratios, and (2) single crystals terminated by well-defined crystallographic planes. This project consists of two main tasks. Surface hydroxyls and (bi)carbonate surface complexes of hematite colloids will first be probed by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Single crystals will, on the other hand, be studied with a suite of surface-sensitive techniques to gain a fundamental understanding of mineral surface structure and reactivity with respect to water and carbon dioxide. Chemometric analyses of the data and concurrent molecular modelling efforts are expected to identify reaction centres, and to reveal cooperativity effects arising from networks of hydrogen-bonded surface hydroxyls and carbonate complexes.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2010-10-01
End Date
2011-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator