Fig. 2: Characterization of surface-induced heterogeneous nucleation of CaCO3 on Ti, PVDF, graphene, and hBN.
From: Ultrahigh resistance of hexagonal boron nitride to mineral scale formation
A A schematic of QCMD experimental setup for characterizing CaCO3 heterogeneous nucleation on four surfaces. SI: saturation index, PC: personal computer, QCMD: quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation; SEM images of CaCO3 crystals formed on B Ti, C PVDF, D graphene, and E hBN coatings on Cu substrate after 9 h of operation, with insets showing the size distribution of vaterite crystals formed. The particle size distribution shown in the B–E inserts are obtained using the ImageJ software and fitted with a Gaussian distribution function; Average number and size of vaterite crystals grown on the four surfaces (F) as a function of operation time and G after 15 h of operation; H–J Real time in-situ monitoring of CaCO3 scale formation using QCMD. H Ion adsorption. I Induction and growth of CaCO3 crystals. Three arrows marked on the Ti, PVDF, and graphene curves indicate the start and finish of two stages: the induction stage i and the growth stage ii. Data obtained using the hBN sample only exhibit one stage (stage i) during the operation. J Average frequency change rate (ΔF/Δt) during the two-stage scale-formation process and surface roughness of the four nanocoatings. Error bars represent the standard deviation.
