Ion-specific ice recrystallization provides a facile approach for the fabrication of porous materials

Authors

Shuwang Wu, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chongqin Zhu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Zhiyuan He, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Han Xue, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qingrui Fan, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yanlin Song, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Joseph S. Francisco, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Xiao Cheng Zeng, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyFollow
Jianjun Wang, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Date of this Version

5-2-2017

Citation

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15154

Comments

Open access.

Abstract

Ice recrystallization is of great importance to both fundamental research and practical applications, however understanding and controlling ice recrystallization processes remains challenging. Here, we report the discovery of an ion-specific effect on ice recrystallization. By simply changing the initial type and concentration of ions in an aqueous solution, the size of ice grains after recrystallization can be tuned from 27.4±4.1 to 277.5±30.9 mm. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the ability of the ion to be incorporated into the ice phase plays a key role in the ultimate size of the ice grains after recrystallization. Moreover, by using recrystallized ice crystals as templates, 2D and 3D porous networks with tuneable pore sizes could be prepared from various materials, for example, NaBr, collagen, quantum dots, silver and polystyrene colloids. These porous materials are suitable for a wide range of applications, for example, in organic electronics, catalysis and bioengineering.