Enhanced Chemical Synthesis at Soft Interfaces: A Universal Reaction-Adsorption Mechanism in Microcompartments
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: A bimolecular synthetic reaction (imine synthesis) was performed compartmentalized in micrometer-diameter emulsion droplets. The apparent equilibrium constant (Keq) and apparent forward rate constant (k1) were both inversely proportional to the droplet radius. The results are explained by a noncatalytic reaction-adsorption model in which reactants adsorb to the droplet interface with relatively low binding energies of a few kBT, react and diffuse back to the bulk. Reaction thermodynamics is therefore modified by compartmentalization at the mesoscale--without confinement on the molecular scale--leading to a universal mechanism for improving unfavorable reactions.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires, Université de Strasbourg, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Harvard University, Imperial College London, Institut Charles Sadron, ParisTech, Chimie Biologie Innovation, ESPCI Paris
Language: English
Subfield: Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
Field: Chemical Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2008615905