A quantum chemistry study on the interaction between silica surface and aqueous alkaline solutions

Abstract

A quantum chemical analysis has been carried out of the equilibrium structure and energy parameters of hydrated Li+, Na+, and K+ cations interacting with ionized silica surface by means of density functional theory method with extended basis set 6-31++G(d,p) and exchange-correlation functional B3LYP. The calculated adsorption energy values related to those cations reproduce the experimental adsorption row of alkali metal cations at pH = 10. Key words: silica, alkali metal hydroxides, density functional theory.