Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2020-1329
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2020-1329
04 Feb 2021
 | 04 Feb 2021
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal ACP. A final paper is not foreseen.

Energetic analysis of succinic acid in water droplets: insight into the size-dependent solubility of atmospheric nanoparticles

Chuchu Chen, Xiaoxiang Wang, Kurt Binder, Mohammad Mehdi Ghahremanpour, David van der Spoel, Ulrich Pöschl, Hang Su, and Yafang Cheng

Abstract. Size-dependent solubility is prevalent in atmospheric nanoparticles, but a molecular level understanding is still insufficient, especially for organic compounds. Here, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the size dependence of succinic acid solvation on the scale of ~1–4 nm with the potential of mean forces method. Our analyses reveal that the surface preference of succinic acid is stronger for a droplet than the slab of the same size, and the surface propensity is enhanced due to the curvature effect as the droplet becomes smaller. Energetic analyses show that such surface preference is primarily an enthalpic effect in both systems, while the entropic effect further enhances the surface propensity in droplets. On the other hand, with decreasing droplet size, the solubility of succinic acid in the internal bulk volume may decrease, imposing an opposite effect on the size dependence of solubility as compared with the enhanced surface propensity. Meanwhile, structural analyses, however, show that the surface to internal bulk volume ratio increases drastically, especially when considering the surface in respect to succinic acid, e.g., for droplet with radius of 1 nm, the internal bulk volume would be already close to zero for the succinic acid molecule.

This preprint has been withdrawn.

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Chuchu Chen, Xiaoxiang Wang, Kurt Binder, Mohammad Mehdi Ghahremanpour, David van der Spoel, Ulrich Pöschl, Hang Su, and Yafang Cheng

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2020-1329', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Mar 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2020-1329', Anonymous Referee #2, 24 May 2021
  • RC3: 'Comment on acp-2020-1329', Anonymous Referee #3, 31 May 2021

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2020-1329', Anonymous Referee #1, 16 Mar 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2020-1329', Anonymous Referee #2, 24 May 2021
  • RC3: 'Comment on acp-2020-1329', Anonymous Referee #3, 31 May 2021
Chuchu Chen, Xiaoxiang Wang, Kurt Binder, Mohammad Mehdi Ghahremanpour, David van der Spoel, Ulrich Pöschl, Hang Su, and Yafang Cheng
Chuchu Chen, Xiaoxiang Wang, Kurt Binder, Mohammad Mehdi Ghahremanpour, David van der Spoel, Ulrich Pöschl, Hang Su, and Yafang Cheng

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Latest update: 01 Nov 2024
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This preprint has been withdrawn.

Short summary
Size dependence of succinic acid solvation in the nanoparticles is investigated based on the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and energetic analysis. The results show a stronger surface preference and a weaker internal bulk volume solvation of succinic acid in the smaller droplets, which may explain the previously observed size-dependent phase-state of aerosol nanoparticles containing organic molecules, fundamentally promoting a better understanding of atmospheric aerosols.
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