Study of the interfacial interactions in the molybdenite floatation system

Interfacial interactions involving Van der Waals force, hydrophobic attractive force and hydration exclusive force were investigated in this paper. The interfacial interactive free energy of a series of interfaces occurring between minerals, water, collectors and bubble was calculated. The results show that a Van der Waals attractive force and a hydrophobic attractive force exist between each mineral and water interface. The hydrophobic attractive force between molybdenite and water is markedly weaker than the hydrophobic attractive force between gangue and water. The hydrophobic attractive force between collector molecules and water is the main driving force that causes the collectors to become dispersed in the pulp. The strong hydrophobic attractive force between molybdenite and the bubble interface is the basic reason for the natural floatability of molybdenite. The Van der Waals force between molybdenite and the collectors is attractive in water solution, but it is not the cause of the main force between them. The main force that results in the collection effect is a hydrophobic attractive force caused by the Lewis acid-base interaction at the molybdenite surface. A floatation experiment shows that the adsorption intensity of the collector on the molybdenite surface is not the crucial factor for molybdenite floatation. Rather, the dispersing capability of the collector in the water phase and its selectivity for the various minerals in the floatation system are more important.

Hydration film measurement on mica and coal surfaces using atomic force microscopy and interfacial interactions

The hydration film on particle surface plays an important role in bubble-particle adhesion in mineral flotation process. The thicknesses of the hydration films on natural hydrophobic coal and hydrophilic mica surfaces were measured directly by atomic force microscopy （AFM） based on the bending mode of the nominal constant compliance regime in AFM force curve in the present study. Surface and solid-liquid interfacial energies were calculated to explain the forming mechanism of the hydration film and atomic force microscopy data. The results show that there are significant differences in the structure and thickness of hydration films on coal and mica surfaces. Hydration film formed on mica surface with the thickness of 22.5 nm. In contrast, the bend was not detected in the nominal constant compliance regime. The van der Waals and polar interactions between both mica and coal and water molecules are characterized by an attractive effect, while the polar attractive free energy between water and mica （-87.36 mN/m） is significantly larger than that between water and coal （-32.89 mN/m）, which leads to a thicker and firmer hydration layer on the mica surface. The interfacial interaction free energy of the coal/water/bubble is greater than that of mica. The polar attractive force is large enough to overcome the repulsive van der Waals force and the low energy barrier of film rupture, achieving coal particle bubble adhesion with a total interfacial free energy of-56.30 mN/m.

Microstructures and interfacial interactions of Al_(2)O_(3)whiskers and graphene nano-platelets co-reinforced copper matrix composites

The mechanical properties and microstructures of Al_(2)O_(3)whiskers and graphene nano-platelets(GNPs)co-reinforced Cu-matrix composites were studied.Cu-matrix composites with a variation of GNPs amount were fabricated by mechanical alloying followed by vacuum hot-pressing sintering and hot isostatic pressing.The Cu-matrix composite with 0.5 wt.%GNPs(GNPs-0.5)suggests a good interfacial bonding of both Cu/C and Cu/Al_(2)O_(3)interfaces.Both the hardness and compressive strength of Cu-matrix composites show a consistent tendency that firstly increases to a critical value and then decreases with increasing GNPs amount.It is suggested that the most possible strengthening mechanisms of both GNPs and Al_(2)O_(3)whisker working in the Cu-matrix composites involve energy dissipating and load transfer,as well as grain refinements for GNPs.The synergetic effect of GNPs and Al_(2)O_(3)whiskers is highlighted that the embedded GNPs would hinder the crack path generated at the Al_(2)O_(3)/Cu interface and enhance the already outstanding strengthening effect that Al_(2)O_(3)whiskers provide.

Modification of Interfacial Interaction of PBT/PP Blends by Adding Main-chain Liquid Crystalline Ionomer with Sulfonic Group

A main-chain liquid crystalline ionomer（MLCI） containing sulfonic group was synthesized by an interfacial condensation reaction.The MLCI was blended with polybutylene terephthalate（PBT） and polypropylene（PP）.MLCI interacted with both the dispersed（PP） phase and the matrix（PBT） phase to modify the interfacial interaction of PBT and PP.Differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）,scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and FTIR imaging system analysis demonstrated the significance of interfacial interaction in the polymer blends.MLCI brought about good adhesion at the interfacial,which reduced the disperse phase size and enabled a fine PP phase at matrix.The mechanical properties of the ternary blends were improved when a proper amount of MLCI was added.This was attributed to enhanced adhesion at the interface,which invoked better mechanical properties in the blends.

Interfacial Interaction Between Polyurethane/Poly(Methacrylateco-Styrene) Coating and the Regenerated Cellulose Film

Water-resistant films were prepared by coating the surface of regenerated cellulose films with castor oil-based polyurethane (PU)/ poly-(methacrylate-co-styrene) [P (MA-St)]. The effects of the ratio of PU to P (MA-St) copolymer on tensile strength (dry and wet states), vapor permeability, size stability, and water resistivity of the coated films were studied. The interfacial interaction between cellulose and the PU/P (MA-St) coating was analyzed using infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The results indicated that the mechanical properties and water resistivity of the coated films significantly enhanced, and the biodegradability was displayed, when the ratio of PU to P (MA-St) was 8∶2 by weight. The chemical bonds and hydrogen bonds between the cellulose, PU, and the copolymer exist in the coated films. It is regarded that PU/P (MA-St) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were formed, and a shared network of PU with both the cellulose and the coating in the coated film occurred simultaneously resulting in a strong bonding between the coating layer and the film.

Dispersion of ultrafine alumina in modifier solution ——the role of polar interfacial interaction

Dispersion of ultrafine alumina suspension is examined by using particle size analyzer. The zeta potential and contact angle measurements were used to discuss the electrokinetic behavior and surface wettability of alumina in modifier solution, and to calculate the electrostatic interaction forces and interfacial interaction forces between alumina particles. The aggregation of ultrafine alumina occurs near its PZC. Addition of modifier increases the zeta potential of alumina and its surface hydrophilicity, resulting in increase of electrostatic and hydration repulsion. It makes the suspension of ultrafine alumina completely dispersed. The average particle size of the suspension is decreased from 1.73 μm in absence of modifier to 0.8 μm in the presence of tripolyphosphate. According to polar interfacial interaction approach, the hydration forces responsible for the stability of alumina suspension in the presence of modifier have also been obtained. The extended DLVO theory is successful to describe the dispersion behavior of ultrafine alumina in modifier solution.

Interfacial Interaction of CFRP Reinforced Steel Beam Structures

Due to the increase of service life,the phenomenon of performance degradation of bridge structures becomes more and more common.It is important to strengthen the bridge structures so as to restore the resistance level and extend the normal service life.Carbon fiber reinforced polymer(CFRP)materials are thus used for the assembly reinforcement of bridges for the advantages of high strength,light weight,corrosion resistance and long-term stability of physical and chemical properties,etc.In view of this,based on the previous theoretical study and the established formula of the interfacial shear stress of CFRP reinforced steel beam and the normal stress of CFRP plate,this paper discusses the sensitive parameters that affect the interfacial interaction of CFRP strengthened beam structures.Through the analysis,the priority design indicators and suggestions are accordingly given for the design of reinforced beam structures.Young’s modulus of CFRP composite and shear modulus of the adhesive have the greatest influence on the interfacial interaction,which should be carefully considered.It is suggested that CFRP material with Ec close to 300 GPa and thickness no less than 3 mm,and adhesive material with Ga less than 5 GPa and 3-mm thickness can be adopted in CFRP reinforced steel beam.The conclusions of this paper can provide guidance for the interfacial damage control of CFRP reinforced steel beam structures.

Interfacial-interaction-induced fabrication of biomass-derived porous carbon with enhanced intrinsic active sites

Carbon catalysis is an attractive metal-free catalytic transformation,and its performance is significantly dependent on the number of accessible active sites.However,owing to the inherent stability of the C-C linkage,only limited active sites at the edge defects of the basal plane can be obtained even after a harsh oxidation treatment.In this study,the concept of interfacial interactions was adopted to propose an efficient strategy to develop highly active carbon catalysts.The alumina/carbon interface formed in situ acted as a cradle for the generation of oxygen-containing functional groups.In the absence of oxidation treatment,the concentration of oxygen-containing functional groups and the specific surface area can reach 1.27 mmol·g^(-1) and 2340 m^(2)·g^(-1),respectively,which are significantly higher than those of carbon prepared by traditional hard template methods.This active carbon shows a significant enhancement in catalytic performance in the oxidative coupling of amine to imine,about 22-fold higher than that of a well-known graphite oxide catalyst.Such interfacial interaction strategies are based on sustainable carbon sources and can effectively tune the porous structure of carbon in the micro-and meso-ranges.This conceptual finding offers new opportunities for the development of high-performance carbon-based metal-free catalysts.

Morphology-dependent interfacial interactions of Fe2O3 with Ag nanoparticles for determining the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol

In this work,we fabricated three kinds of Ag/Fe2O3 model catalysts with different morphologies to study the interfacial interactions between Ag and Fe2O3,and how they affected the catalytic activity in hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol was explored.The hydrothermal method was used to synthesize the metal oxide supported silver catalyst,with various morphologies including nanoplates(NPs),nanospheres(NSs),and nanocubes(NCs).The crystal structure,morphology and surface elements of the composite were investigated by various measurements,such as X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The catalytic activity was also evaluated by the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol.It was found that the activities of the above catalysts varied with the morphology of the support.Among them,Ag/Fe2O3 NPs promoted the highest performance,Ag/Fe2O3 NSs were slightly inferior,and Ag/Fe2O3 NCs were the worst.At last,we ascribed the remarkable activity of Ag/Fe2O3 NPs to the strong metal-support interactions between Ag and Fe2O3.

Thermo-sensitive Poly(DEGMMA-co-MEA) Microgels: Synthesis, Characterization and Interfacial Interaction with Adsorbed Protein Layer

The novel microgels, poly[di（ethylene glycol） methyl ether methacrylate-co-2-methoxyethyl acrylate] poly（DEGMMA-co-MEA） microgels, were synthesized. The poly（DEGMMA-co-MEA） microgels were thermo-sensitive and exhibited a volume phase transitive temperature（VPTT） of 14–22 ℃. The incorporation of hydrophobic comonomer MEA shifted the VPTT of poly（DEGMMA-co-MEA） microgels to lower temperatures. The interfacial interaction of poly（DEGMMA-co-MEA） microgels and three model proteins, namely fibrinogen, bovine serum albumin and lysozyme, was investigated by quartz crystal microbalance（QCM）. An injection sequence of ＂microgel-after-protein＂ was then established for the real-time study of the interaction of proteins and the microgels at their swollen and collapsed states by using QCM technique. The results indicated that the interfacial interaction of poly（DEGMMA-co-MEA） microgels and adsorbed protein layers was mainly determined by the electrostatic interaction. Because poly（DEGMMA-co-MEA） microgels were negatively charged in Tris-HCl buffer solution（pH = 7.4）, the microgels did not adsorb on negatively charged fibrinogen and bovine serum albumin layers but strongly adsorbed on positively charged lysozyme layer. Stronger interaction between lysozyme and the microgels at collapsed state（i.e. at 37 ℃） was observed. Furthermore, the incorporation of MEA might weaken the interaction between poly（DEGMMA-co-MEA） microgels and proteins.

Dual Effects of Interfacial Interaction and Geometric Constraints on Structural Formation of Poly(butylene terephthalate)Nanorods

When the size of the material is smaller than the size of the molecular chain,new nanostructures can be formed by crystallizing polymers in nanoporous alumina.However,the effect of pore wall and geometric constraints on polymer nanostructures remains unclear.In this study,we demonstrate three new restricted nanostructures{upright-,flat-and tilting-ring}in polybutylene terephthalate(PBT)nanorods prepared from nanoporous alumina.The dual effects of geometrical constraints and interfacial interactions on the formation of PBT nanostructures were investigated for the first time by using X-ray diffraction and Cerius^(2) modeling packages.Under weak constraints,the interaction between pore wall and the PBT rings is dominant and the ring plane tends to be parallel to the pore wall and radiate outward to grow the upright-ring crystals.Surprisingly,in strong 2D confinement,a structural formation reversal occurs and geometrical constraints overpower the effect of pore wall.Rings tend to pile up vertically or obliquely along the long axis of the rod,so the flat-and tilting-ring crystals are predominate in the constrained system.In principle,our study of the nanostructure formation based on the geometrical constraints and the pore wall interfacial effects could provide a new route to manipulate the chain assembly at the nanoscale,further improving the performance of polymer nanomaterial.

Interfacial forces between silica surfaces measured by atomic force microscopy

Colloidal particle stability and some other interfacial phenomena are governed by interfacial force interactions. The two well known forces are van der Waals force and electrostatic force, as documented by the classical Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek （DLVO） theory. Moreover, advances in modern instrumentation and colloid science suggested that some short-ranged forces or structure forces are important for relevant colloidal systems. The interfacial and/or molecular forces can be measured as a resultant force as function of separation distance by atomic force microscopy （AFM） colloid probe. This article presents a discussion on AFM colloid probe measurement of silica particle and silica wafer surfaces in solutions with some technical notifications in measurement and data convolution mechanisms. The measured forces are then analyzed and discussed based on the ＇constant charge＇ and ＇constant potential＇ models of DLVO theory. The difference between the prediction of DLVO theory and the measured results indicates that there is a strong short-range structure force between the two hydrophilic surfaces, even at extremely low ionic concentration, such as Milli-Q water purity solution.

Freestanding 1T MoS_(2)@MXene hybrid film with strong interfacial interaction for highly reversible zinc ions storage

Aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs)are now gaining widespread attention because of their costeffectiveness,intrinsic saf ety,and high theoretical capacity.Nevertheless,it is still crucial to exploit highperformance electrode materials.Herein,the freestanding 1T MoS_(2)@Mxene hybrid films(MMHF)were synthesized and directly served as the cathode of AZIBs.The freestanding MMHF exhibited the hierarchical layer structure with excellent conductivity and strong interfacial interaction,which promoted the exposure of more active sites and the transfer of electrons/ions.Consequently,the MMHF displayed a high specific capacity of 270 mAh g^(-1)(at 0.1 A g^(–1))and good rate performance.Impressively,even after 2500 cycles under 10 A g^(-1),the freestanding MMHF cathode contributed a superior specific capacity of 108 mAh g^(-1)with an outstanding capacity retention rate of 94.7%.Meanwhile,the energy storage mechanism of the MMHF electrode was also elucidated through ex-situ characterizations.Furthermore,the density functional theory(DFT)computations revealed the strong interfacial interactions between 1T MoS_(2)and MXene,high conductivity,and low Zn^(2+)diffusion barrier.This work provides a new viewpoint for designing freestanding transition metal disulfides(TMDs)-MXene hybrid film electrodes for AZIBs.

Tuning interface mechanism of FeCo alloy embedded N,S-codoped carbon substrate for rechargeable Zn-air battery

The interface mechanism between catalyst and carbon substrate has been the focus of research.In this paper,the FeCo alloy embedded N,S co-doped carbon substrate bifunctional catalyst(FeCo/S-NC)is obtained by a simple one-step pyrolysis strategy.The experimental results and density functional theory(DFT)calculation show that the formation of FeCo alloy is conducive to promoting electron transfer,and the introduction of S atom can enhance the interaction between FeCo alloy and carbon substrate,thus inhibiting the migration and agglomeration of particles on the surface of carbon material.The FeCo/SNC catalysts show outstanding performance for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER).FeCo/S-NC shows a high half-wave potential(E_(1/2)=0.8823 V)for ORR and a low overpotential at 10 mA cm^(-2)(E_(j=10)=299 mV)for OER.In addition,compared with Pt/C+RuO_(2) assembled Zn-air battery(ZAB),the FeCo/S-NC assembled ZAB exhibits a larger power density(198.8 mW cm^(-2)),a higher specific capacity(786.1 mA h g_(zn)~(-1)),and ultra-stable cycle performance.These results confirm that the optimized composition and the interfacial interaction between catalyst and carbon substrate synergistically enhance the electrochemical performance.

Recovery of molybdenum and copper from porphyry ore via iso-flotability flotation

A copper-molybdenum iso-flotability flotation process has been developed to efficiently improve the recovery ofmolybdenite from Duobaoshan porphyry Cu-Mo ores.The effects of flotation approach,type of collector,feed particle sizedistribution,rougher pH value and reagent dosage on the recovery of molybdenite were evaluated systematically.The results suggestthat compared with kerosene and diesel oil,transformer oil has stronger dispersion capability in water media and better flotationselectivity for molybdenite,providing a higher molybdenum recovery under low reagent dosage.Moreover,compared with bulkflotation approach,the iso-flotability flotation approach using transformer oil as a collector can obtain superior Mo recovery(90.77%)and grade(0.80%)in the cleaner concentrate,and increase the Mo recovery and grade by over18%and5%in the final Moconcentrate,respectively.The results of commercial flotation further indicate that the iso-flotability flotation approach is a rationaland effective route to beneficiate the porphyry Cu-Mo ores.

MOF-Derived ZnS Nanodots/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) MXene Hybrids Boosting Superior Lithium Storage Performance

ZnS has great potentials as an anode for lithium storage because of its high theoretical capacity and resource abundance;however,the large volume expansion accompanied with structural collapse and low conductivity of ZnS cause severe capacity fading and inferior rate capability during lithium storage. Herein,0D-2 D ZnS nanodots/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_x MXene hybrids are prepared by anchoring ZnS nanodots on Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) MXene nanosheets through coordination modulation between MXene and MOF precursor(ZIF-8) followed with sulfidation. The MXene substratecoupled with the ZnS nanodots can synergistically accommodate volume variation of ZnS over charge–discharge to realize stable cyclability. As revealed by XPS characterizations and DFT calculations,the strong interfacial interaction between ZnS nanodots and MXene nanosheets can boost fast electron/lithium-ion transfer to achieve excellent electrochemical activity and kinetics for lithium storage. Thereby,the as-prepared ZnS nanodots/MXene hybrid exhibits a high capacity of 726.8 mAh g^(-1) at 30 mA g^(-1),superior cyclic stability(462.8 mAh g^(-1) after 1000 cycles at 0.5 A g^(-1)),and excellent rate performance. The present results provide new insights into the understanding of the lithium storage mechanism of ZnS and the revealing of the e ects of interfacial interaction on lithium storage performance enhancement.

Pt supported on octahedral Fe_3O_4 microcrystals as a catalyst for removal of formaldehyde under ambient conditions

Several catalysts comprising Pt supported on octahedral Fe3O4（Pt/Fe3O4） were prepared by a facile method involving co-precipitation followed by thermal treatment at different temperatures. A variety of characterization results revealed that this preparation process afforded highly crystalline octahedral Fe3O4 with a uniform distribution of Pt nanoparticles on its surface. The thermal-treatment temperature significantly influenced the redox properties of the Pt/Fe3O4 catalysts. All the Pt/Fe3O4 catalysts were found to be catalytically active and stable for the oxidation of low-concentration formaldehyde（HCHO） with oxygen. The catalyst prepared by thermal treatment at 80 °C（labelled Pt/Fe3O4-80） exhibited the highest catalytic activity, efficiently converting HCHO to CO2 and H2 O under ambient temperature and moisture conditions. The excellent performance of Pt/Fe3O4-80 was mainly attributed to beneficial interactions between the Pt and Fe species that result in the formation a higher density of active interface sites（e.g., Pt-O-FeO x and Pt-OH-FeO x）. The introduction of water vapor improves the catalytic activity of the Pt/Fe3O4 catalysts as it participates in a water-assisted dissociation process.

Ferroelectric polarization-enhanced photocatalytic performance of heterostructured BaTiO_(3)@TiO_(2) via interface engineering

A catalyst of ferroelectric-BaTiO_(3)@photoelectric-TiO_(2) nanohybrids(BaTiO_(3)@TiO_(2))with enhanced photocatalytic activity was synthesized via a hydrolysis precipitation combined with a hydrothermal approach.Compared to pure TiO_(2),pure BaTiO_(3) and BaTiO_(3)/TiO_(2) physical mixture,the heterostructured BaTiO_(3)@TiO_(2) exhibits significantly improved photocatalytic activity and cycling stability in decomposing Rhodamine B(RhB)and the degradation efficiency is 1.7 times higher than pure TiO_(2) and 7.2 times higher than pure BaTiO_(3).These results are mainly attributed to the synergy effect of photoelectric TiO_(2),ferroelectric-BaTiO_(3) and the rationally designed interfacial structure.The mesoporous microstructure of TiO_(2) is of a high specific area and enables excellent photocatalytic activity.The ferroelectric polarization induced built-in electric field in BaTiO_(3) nanoparticles,and the intimate interfacial interactions at the interface of BaTiO_(3) and TiO_(2) are effective in driving the separation and transport of photogenerated charge carriers.This strategy will stimulate the design of heterostructured photocatalysts with outstanding photocatalytic performance via interface engineering.

Flotation mechanisms of molybdenite fines by neutral oils

The flotation mechanisms of molybdenite fines by neutral oils were investigated through microflotation test, turbidity measure- ments, infrared spectroscopy, and interracial interaction calculations. The results of the flotation test show that at pH 2-11, the floatability of molybdenite fines in the presence of transformer oil is markedly better than that in the presence of kerosene and diesel oil. The addition of transformer oil, which enhances the floatability of molybdenite fines, promotes the aggregation of molybdenite particles. Fourier transform infrared measurements illustrate that physical interaction dominates the adsorption mechanism of neutral oil on molybdenite. Interracial inte- raction calculations indicate that hydrophobic attraction is the crucial force that acts among the oil collector, water, and molybdenite. Strong hydrophobic attraction between the oily collector and water provides the strong dispersion capability of the collector in water. Furthermore, the dispersion capability of the collector, not the interaction strength role in the flotation system of molybdenite fines. Our findings provide between the oily collectors and molybdenite, has a highly significant insights into the mechanism ofmolybdenite flotation.

Interfacial friction at action: Interactions, regulation, and applications

Friction is a fundamental force that impacts almost all interface-related applications.Over the past decade,there is a revival in our basic understanding and practical applications of the friction.In this review,we discuss the recent progress on solid–liquid interfacial friction from the perspective of interfaces.We first discuss the fundamentals and theoretical evolution of solid–liquid interfacial friction based on both bulk interactions and molecular interactions.Then,we summarize the interfacial friction regulation strategies manifested in both natural surfaces and artificial systems,focusing on how liquid,solid,gas,and hydrodynamic coupling actions mediate interfacial friction.Next,we discuss some practical applications that are inhibited or reinforced by interfacial friction.At last,we present the challenges to further understand and regulate interfacial friction.