Issue 28, 2025

On the origin of the large hydrophobic solvation driving forces at metal- and oxide-water interfaces

Abstract

Recent studies discovered the existence of large hydrophobic solvation driving forces at macroscopically hydrophilic metal/and oxide/aqueous interfaces, which dictate several physical and chemical processes. They arise from the coexistence of local hydrophobic and hydrophilic behaviors. Rationally tuning these newly discovered driving forces by small adjustments of surface (or electrolyte) properties will open exciting perspectives in heterogeneous catalysis, geochemistry, nanofluidics, and electrochemistry. Here, we provide a molecular understanding of the origin of these driving forces, including how they are tuned by surface properties and why they can manifest at very diverse interfaces, from metals to oxides, from conductors to insulators. Our work builds a foundation to control these driving forces for improving existing technologies.

Graphical abstract: On the origin of the large hydrophobic solvation driving forces at metal- and oxide-water interfaces

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Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
24 dub 2025
Accepted
10 čvn 2025
First published
13 čvn 2025
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2025,16, 12823-12832

On the origin of the large hydrophobic solvation driving forces at metal- and oxide-water interfaces

M. Bin Jassar and S. Pezzotti, Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 12823 DOI: 10.1039/D5SC03005F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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