General direction of laboratory investigations is structural analysis of liquid-phase systems in a wide range of state parameters. Major tasks are revelation of the specific character of ions surrounding in solutions, regularity of water-electrolyte diffusion-averaged structure formation. Methods in use: experimental methodology is X-ray diffraction and theoretical one is integral equations approach.
Main problems:
- Physical-chemical properties of liquid solutions are determined by structural features as well as the nature of intermolecular interactions. The revelation of quantitative relations of structural and energetic characteristics with physical-chemical properties is one of the scientific liquid theory fundamental problems.
- For development and application of new environmentally friendly technological processes and methods of obtaining materials with predetermined properties it is necessary to have a hard and interconsistent data of solutions properties that are used in such a processes. Particular interest as a result is insufficiently explored concentrated and multicomponent solutions, which are usually used in practice, as well as unexplored water-electrolyte systems in extreme conditions.
- The laboratory tasks also include determination of structural features and nature of intermolecular interactions in electrolyte solutions of various concentrations, including glass-like state, and multicomponent mixtures that are the basis of HTSC materials, organic systems and mixtures, and also solutions in the wide range of temperatures and pressures.
- In this regard the special significance take an information, obtained by direct structural methods, among which a wide application has X-ray diffraction method on liquid solutions, its possibilities could be extended due to the application of X-ray structure experiment from the results of integral equation method to the data analysis. The latter allows to determine the objects structural characteristics not available from X-ray diffraction analysis in a number of cases, and to predict systems structural properties in extreme conditions.
General results and current investigations:
Small-angle X-ray scattering technique allowing to determine the structural parameters of condensed systems at long distances (nanostructures) has been developed.
In cooperation with Fukuoka University (Japan) the unique rapid X-ray structural analysis methodology has been developed on the basis on imaging-plate diffractometer, allowed to investigate structural parameters of liquid systems absorbed by mesoporous materials in the low-temperature range.
On the basis of proper X-ray diffraction results and literature information, complex approach to the analysis of water-electrolyte solutions in the wide range of concentrations and temperatures, allowing the possibility for liquids structural characteristics prediction was used.
One of the liquids statistical theory approaches – integral equations method is developing. Its reliability confirmed by agreement with experimental X-ray structure results.
Data bank on the structural characteristics of ions in solutions with oxygen-containing anions has been created, and the features of 1:1 electrolyte solution series structure formation in the range of high state parameters has been revealed.
Projects in progress:
Application of complex approaches of X-ray structure analysis and integral equations methods for obtaining in-depth information about the features of short-range ordering in water-electrolyte systems. This technique allows to determine structural characteristics of objects which couldn’t be obtained correctly in X-ray diffraction investigations:
- dilute and extremely dilute aqueous electrolyte solutions
- structural parameters of hydration of ions with similar radiuses or with those similar to ionic oxygen radius
Nonempirical way of structural properties of water-electrolyte systems in hard-to-reach for experimental methods state parameters range (at high temperatures and pressures, in critical, sub- and supercritical range, in supercooling and glass formation).
7 candidates and 2 Doctors defended their theses in laboratory.
Foreign partners:
University of Fukuoka (Japan), laboratory of structural investigation methods
University of Bordo (France), laboratory of physical chemistry of molecular systems
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