Van der Waals interaction affects wrinkle formation in two-dimensional materials

Nonlinear mechanics of solids is an exciting field that encompasses both beautiful mathematics, such as the emergence of instabilities and the formation of complex patterns, as well as multiple applications. Two-dimensional crystals and van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures allow revisiting this field on the atomic level, allowing much finer control over the parameters and offering atomistic interpretation of experimental observations. In this work, we consider the formation of instabilities consisting of radially oriented wrinkles around mono- and few-layer “bubbles” in two-dimensional vdW heterostructures. Interestingly, the shape and wavelength of the wrinkles depend not only on the thickness of the two-dimensional crystal forming the bubble, but also on the atomistic structure of the interface between the bubble and the substrate, which can be controlled by their relative orientation. We argue that the periodic nature of these patterns emanates from an energetic balance between the resistance of the top membrane to bending, which favors large wavelength of wrinkles, and the membrane-substrate vdW attraction, which favors small wrinkle amplitude. Employing the classical “Winkler foundation” model of elasticity theory, we show that the number of radial wrinkles conveys a valuable relationship between the bending rigidity of the top membrane and the strength of the vdW interaction. Armed with this relationship, we use our data to demonstrate a nontrivial dependence of the bending rigidity on the number of layers in the top membrane, which shows two different regimes driven by slippage between the layers, and a high sensitivity of the vdW force to the alignment between the substrate and the membrane.

Why are the van der Waals forces repulsive for interactions of bubbles with solid-water interface?

<p>Understanding interactions of bubbles with surfaces in water is critical to a variety of engineered applications and environmental concerns such as delivery of the nanobubbles for in-situ soil remediation and use of flotation in water treatment. van der Waals (VDW) force is one of the main forces controlling the interaction between a colloid and a surface in electrolyte solution. It has been recognized that the VDW force is repulsive between a solid surface and a colloid if it is a bubble. Thus, the bubbles did not stick to walls in water. However, it is still not very clear about the mechanisms controlling the repulsive VDW interactions between bubbles and walls to date. Here we used the Hamaker approach to develop an analytical model to quantify the interaction between bubbles and surfaces in water. We provided explanation for why the bubble-surface interaction is repulsive in water. Our findings have important implication to undertanding the natural and engineered processes that involve bubbles in aqutic environments.</p>

Impact Dynamics of Single-Layered Graphene Sheets in Multibody Framework Using Nonlocal-Based-ANCF Modeling

A new nonlinear model based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) and the nonlocal elasticity theory is proposed to investigate the single-layered graphene sheets (SLGSs) impacted by nanoparticles. The geometrical definition of SLGSs is described by using the ANCF thin plate element, and the strain energy is expressed by using the nonlocal theory. The Lennard–Jones pair potential is adopted to model the van der Waals (vdW) force between SLGSs and nanoparticles. The impact dynamics of the system is simulated in multibody framework by using the generalized-alpha numerical integration method. The impact response of the gold atom–SLGSs system is simulated to validate the performance of the proposed model. Three impact dynamic simulations are conducted to investigate the influence of nanoparticles on the impact dynamics of SLGSs. The results show that the coupling of SLGSs vibration and vdW force led to the amplitude inconsistence of [Formula: see text]-position for nanoparticles.

Faraday cage screening reveals intrinsic aspects of the van der Waals attraction

General properties of the recently observed screening of the van der Waals (vdW) attraction between a silica substrate and silica tip by insertion of graphene are predicted using basic theory and first-principles calculations. Results are then focused on possible practical applications, as well as an understanding of the nature of vdW attraction, considering recent discoveries showing it competing against covalent and ionic bonding. The traditional view of the vdW attraction as arising from pairwise-additive London dispersion forces is considered using Grimme’s “D3” method, comparing results to those from Tkatchenko’s more general many-body dispersion (MBD) approach, all interpreted in terms of Dobson’s general dispersion framework. Encompassing the experimental results, MBD screening of the vdW force between two silica bilayers is shown to scale up to medium separations as 1.25 de/d, where d is the bilayer separation and de is its equilibrium value, depicting antiscreening approaching and inside de. Means of unifying this correlation effect with those included in modern density functionals are urgently required.

Understanding Instabilities of TFC Femto-Slider and Pico-Slider via Surface Force Theory

We formulated the surface pressure of a disk surface that consists of three layers of diamond-like-carbon (DLC) as well as bonded and mobile lubricants based on the asperity adhesive contact theory. We demonstrated that this surface force could well evaluate the touchdown behaviors of a thermal fly-height control (TFC) slider. This theory shows that the touchdown behaviors of a current TFC femto-slider are mainly governed by the asperity meniscus force rather than the van der Waals force (vdW). However, it is shown that the static instability of a pico-slider was generated from the vdW force. Moreover, it is estimated that the dynamic instability of the pico-slider was mainly caused by the meniscus force rather than the vdW force. This surface force theory can allow us to understand consistently various phenomena of slider dynamics.

Faraday-Cage Screening Reveals Intrinsic Aspects of the van der Waals Attraction

General properties of the recently observed screening of the van der Waals (vdW) attraction between a silica substrate and silica tip by insertion of graphene are predicted using basic theory and first-principles calculations. Results are then focused on possible practical applications, as well as an understanding of the nature of vdW attraction, considering recent discoveries showing it competing against covalent and ionic bonding. The traditional view of the vdW attraction as arising from pairwise-additive London dispersion forces is considered using Grimme’s “D3” method, comparing results to those from Tkatchenko’s more general many-body dispersion (MBD) approach, all interpreted in terms of Dobson’s general dispersion framework. Encompassing the experimental results, MBD screening of the vdW force between two silica bilayers is shown to scale up to medium separations as 1.25 de/d, where d is the bilayer separation and de its equilibrium value, depicting antiscreening approaching and inside de. Means of unifying this correlation effect with those included in modern density functionals are urgently required. <br>

Faraday-Cage Screening Reveals Intrinsic Aspects of the van der Waals Attraction

General properties of the recently observed screening of the van der Waals (vdW) attraction between a silica substrate and silica tip by insertion of graphene are predicted using basic theory and first-principles calculations. Results are then focused on possible practical applications, as well as an understanding of the nature of vdW attraction, considering recent discoveries showing it competing against covalent and ionic bonding. The traditional view of the vdW attraction as arising from pairwise-additive London dispersion forces is considered using Grimme’s “D3” method, comparing results to those from Tkatchenko’s more general many-body dispersion (MBD) approach, all interpreted in terms of Dobson’s general dispersion framework. Encompassing the experimental results, MBD screening of the vdW force between two silica bilayers is shown to scale up to medium separations as 1.25 de/d, where d is the bilayer separation and de its equilibrium value, depicting antiscreening approaching and inside de. Means of unifying this correlation effect with those included in modern density functionals are urgently required. <br>

Faraday-Cage Screening Reveals Intrinsic Aspects of the van der Waals Attraction

General properties of the recently observed screening of the van der Waals (vdW) attraction between a silica substrate and silica tip by insertion of graphene are predicted using basic theory and first-principles calculations. Results are then focused on possible practical applications, as well as an understanding of the nature of vdW attraction, considering recent discoveries showing it competing against covalent and ionic bonding. The traditional view of the vdW attraction as arising from pairwise-additive London dispersion forces is considered using Grimme’s “D3” method, comparing results to those from Tkatchenko’s more general many-body dispersion (MBD) approach, all interpreted in terms of Dobson’s general dispersion framework. Encompassing the experimental results, MBD screening of the vdW force between two silica bilayers is shown to scale up to medium separations as 1.25 de/d, where d is the bilayer separation and de its equilibrium value, depicting antiscreening approaching and inside de. Means of unifying this correlation effect with those included in modern density functionals are urgently required. <br>

Effect of Slick Water on Permeability of Shale Gas Reservoirs

In this study, we analyzed the flow-back resistance of slick water fracturing fluid in shale reservoirs. The flow-back resistance mainly includes capillary force, Van der Waals (VDW) force, hydrogen bond force, and hydration stress. Shale of Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation (LSLF) was used to study its wettability, hydration stress, and permeability change with time of slick water treatment. The results reveal that wettability of LSLF shale was more oil-wet before immersion, while it becomes more water-wet after immersion. The hydration stress of the shale increased with increasing immersion time. The permeability decreased first, then recovered with increasing immersion time. The major reason for permeability recovery is that the capillary effect (wettability) and the shale hydration make macrocracks extension and expansion and hydration-induced fractures formation.