Figure 4: Atomic scale structure of mica-KCl (aq.) interfaces at high molarities. | Nature Communications

Figure 4: Atomic scale structure of mica-KCl (aq.) interfaces at high molarities.

From: Atomically resolved three-dimensional structures of electrolyte aqueous solutions near a solid surface

Figure 4

(a) xz frame (low pass filtered image). At high molarities the interface is characterized by the presence of an ordered liquid layer 2–3 nanometres thick. The inset shows a filtered image (FFT) of the bottom right corner of the xz frame. The ordered layers show atomic scale features along x and z axis. The xz frame shows the variations of the phase shift. (b) xz frame extending 5 nm above the mica surface (not shown). The side bar shows the variations of the oscillation amplitude during the z motion (A0=169 pm). (c) The force curve taken along the horizontal dashed line in a show a mean periodicity of 0.5 nm. It follows the lattice structure of the mica(001). (d) Force curve along the perpendicular line plotted in a. The force oscillates with the distance from the mica. (e) CF-DFT simulations at high molarities. Number density profiles perpendicular to the mica surface for K+, Cl− and water. The density profiles are normalized with respect to the bulk number density of water. (f) Net charge density profile (cation minus anion). Scale bars, 0.5 nm (a,b).

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