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Surfaces
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Advances in Solid–Liquid Interface Science: From Fundamentals to Applications
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Advances in Solid–Liquid Interface Science: From Fundamentals to Applications

A special issue of Surfaces (ISSN 2571-9637).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 4006

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Minghui Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
Interests: surface chemistry; interfacial catalysis; interfacial adsorption; novel surfactant synthesis
Prof. Dr. Yang'en You

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230601, China
Interests: organic synthesis; interfacial synthesis
Prof. Dr. Yu Fu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Interests: film fabrication on air/liquid surface; dynamic transfer of solid surface; droplet at liquid surface
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, "Advances in Solid-Liquid Interface Science: From Fundamentals to Applications," seeks to provide a comprehensive exploration of the latest breakthroughs and innovations at solid–liquid interfaces. It will focus on the fundamental mechanisms governing physical, chemical, and electrochemical interactions at these interfaces, with a particular emphasis on new insights into ion adsorption, surface reactivity, and electrochemical behaviour.

Emerging applications of solid–liquid interface science—such as advanced materials for energy storage, environmental remediation, and catalysis—will also be highlighted. Recent advances in nanomaterials, smart coatings, and interface engineering are transforming the way we approach challenges in energy storage devices, water purification, and corrosion control.

The Issue will feature cutting-edge studies that explore novel experimental techniques and theoretical models, shedding light on the critical role that these interfaces play in a wide range of scientific and technological advancements. By gathering top-tier research on interface behaviour, interfacial charge transfer, and surface chemistry, this Special Issue aims to deepen our understanding of solid–liquid interfaces and their critical role in the development of next-generation technologies.

Dr. Minghui Zhang
Prof. Dr. Yang'en You
Prof. Dr. Yu Fu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Surfaces is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solid–liquid interface
  • ion adsorption
  • surface chemistry
  • electrochemical interactions
  • interface behavior
  • material science
  • environmental applications
  • energy storage
  • surface energy
  • nanomaterials
  • interface catalysis
  • surface catalysis
  • heterogeneous catalysis
  • surface modification

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1821 KB  
Article
Molecular Adsorption Versus Particulate Loading: Structure–Activity Relationship of Sulfonated Cobalt Phthalocyanine in Sulfur Cathodes
by Shiyu Xu, Zifeng Gu, Zhanghua Fu, Chuang Chen and Cheng Hu
Surfaces 2026, 9(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces9010016 - 5 Feb 2026
Viewed by 486
Abstract
The dispersion state of molecular catalysts critically determines sulfur utilization efficiency and redox kinetics in lithium–sulfur cells. Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) exhibits intrinsic catalytic activity in sulfur redox reactions, owing to its planar π-conjugated framework and highly active Co-N4 centers. However, its poor [...] Read more.
The dispersion state of molecular catalysts critically determines sulfur utilization efficiency and redox kinetics in lithium–sulfur cells. Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) exhibits intrinsic catalytic activity in sulfur redox reactions, owing to its planar π-conjugated framework and highly active Co-N4 centers. However, its poor solubility in solvents confines active sites to particle surfaces, thereby restricting catalytic utilization. The high flexibility of phthalocyanines allows for the introduction of substituents to modulate solubility. This study aims to utilize the differing solubility of sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPcS) in various solvents to achieve distinct loading morphologies on carbon host, investigating the structure–activity relationship induced by catalyst dispersion. In the molecular adsorption configuration, the Co-N4 active sites exhibit enhanced accessibility to Li2S4, where the sulfur atoms engage in stronger electron-transfer interactions with the Co centers. This strengthened orbital coupling weakens the bridging S-S bond and facilitates the liquid–solid conversion. Compared to particle-loaded cathodes, molecularly adsorbed cathodes exhibit a charge transfer impedance approximately 84.6% lower and a high reversible capacity of nearly 800 mAh g−1 at a 3C rate. Particularly at a 0.5C rate, they achieve a high initial specific capacity of nearly 1300 mAh g−1 and maintain over 80% capacity retention after 200 cycles. This study demonstrates that molecular-level dispersion, with effective exposure of active sites, is essential for activating the catalytic potential of molecular catalysts and offers a general molecular-engineering strategy for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid–Liquid Interface Science: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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33 pages, 3267 KB  
Article
A Simple Method for Porous Structure Characterization of Ultrafiltration Membranes from Permeability Data and Hydrodynamic Models: A Semi-Empirical Approach
by Manuel Palencia, Jina M. Martínez-Lara, Jorge M. Durango, José Sebastián López Vélez and Enrique M. Combatt
Surfaces 2026, 9(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces9010005 - 27 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 876
Abstract
New approaches to the characterization of porous materials must satisfy principles of green analytical chemistry; in addition, they should be reproducible, versatile, and capable of providing relevant information for specific applications. Membrane characterization techniques often fail to meet some of these requirements. Specifically, [...] Read more.
New approaches to the characterization of porous materials must satisfy principles of green analytical chemistry; in addition, they should be reproducible, versatile, and capable of providing relevant information for specific applications. Membrane characterization techniques often fail to meet some of these requirements. Specifically, hydrodynamic porous-based model methods (HPMMs) enable the simulation and evaluation of membrane properties, as well as the monitoring of changes in the response to controlled and uncontrolled modifications. Nevertheless, HPMMs are limited by the multifactorial relationships between their variables and by the generation of only single-value responses. Here, a semi-empirical approach to the characterization of membrane pore structure is proposed and evaluated using simple experimental measurements from pristine and modified membranes. The model enables the determination of the effective pore radius based on two size descriptors related to porosity and permeability, the construction of pore size distributions, and the estimation of structural parameters, such as the number of pores, pore size, and surface porosity. Furthermore, it allows for the simulation of Darcy-type flow behavior in both linear and nonlinear regimes. The model was evaluated on pristine and poly(vinyl alcohol)-modified poly(ethersulfone) ultrafiltration membranes (60–120 mmolL−1) by diafiltration (100–400 kPa). Results demonstrate the usefulness of the model in characterizing membrane pore structure by using simple, fast, and non-destructive methods, thereby enabling advances in analytical diafiltration for membrane characterization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid–Liquid Interface Science: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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12 pages, 2333 KB  
Article
Gas-Phase Modification as Key Process in Design of New Generation of Gd2O3-Based Contrast Agents for Computed Tomography
by Anton V. Kupriyanov, Igor Y. Kaplin, Evgeniya V. Suslova, Denis A. Shashurin, Alexei V. Shumyantsev, Dmitry N. Stolbov, Serguei V. Savilov and Georgy A. Chelkov
Surfaces 2026, 9(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces9010001 - 22 Dec 2025
Viewed by 516
Abstract
In the present study, thin-layered core–shell Gd2O3@SiO1.5R (R is C3H6NH2) structures were synthesized by gas-phase surface modification of a Gd2O3 core with a 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) shell for the [...] Read more.
In the present study, thin-layered core–shell Gd2O3@SiO1.5R (R is C3H6NH2) structures were synthesized by gas-phase surface modification of a Gd2O3 core with a 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) shell for the first time. The proposed method consists of two consecutive steps carried out in a fixed-bed reactor. The first step involves APTES adsorption on the Gd2O3 surface, followed by APTES hydrolysis by water vapor. The organosyloxane shell formation was confirmed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric data. X-ray attenuation coefficients of Gd2O3 and Gd2O3@SiO1.5R samples were determined by photon-counting computed tomography in a phantom study. The SiO1.5R shells in the synthesized Gd2O3@SiO1.5R samples had minimal thickness and did not affect the attenuation coefficients of Gd2O3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid–Liquid Interface Science: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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13 pages, 2781 KB  
Article
Comparative Study on Cation Adsorption and Thermodynamic Characteristics of Clay Minerals in Electrolyte Solutions
by Jiazhong Wu, Heshu Hu, Shuke Zhao, Yisong Li, Kun Zhao, Minghui Zhang and Bin Ding
Surfaces 2025, 8(4), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces8040090 - 15 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 991
Abstract
The interaction between clay minerals and electrolyte solutions critically affects waterflooding efficiency in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This study systematically investigated the adsorption and thermodynamic properties of montmorillonite, illite, and kaolinite in different cationic solutions (K+, Na+, Ca2+ [...] Read more.
The interaction between clay minerals and electrolyte solutions critically affects waterflooding efficiency in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This study systematically investigated the adsorption and thermodynamic properties of montmorillonite, illite, and kaolinite in different cationic solutions (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+), integrating adsorption isotherm analysis with immersion calorimetry for the first time. Montmorillonite showed the highest adsorption capacity, with the cation affinity following K+ > Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+. The highest immersion enthalpy was observed in KCl solution, indicating the dominant roles of ionic radius and solvation energy. Cation adsorption induced deformation of clay lamellae and modification of Si-O and Al-OH groups. These findings suggest that optimizing injected ion composition can enhance reservoir stability and waterflood performance, providing thermodynamic insights for EOR process optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid–Liquid Interface Science: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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10 pages, 2210 KB  
Article
The Supramolecular Structure Modulates the Acidity of Amphiphiles
by Javier Alejandro Bellon and Natalia Wilke
Surfaces 2025, 8(4), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces8040086 - 28 Nov 2025
Viewed by 544
Abstract
It is recognized that the ionization state of amphipathic molecules can affect the curvature and arrangement of the supramolecular structure of which they are a part due to changes in their shape and interactions with neighboring molecules. The pKa influences the overall charge [...] Read more.
It is recognized that the ionization state of amphipathic molecules can affect the curvature and arrangement of the supramolecular structure of which they are a part due to changes in their shape and interactions with neighboring molecules. The pKa influences the overall charge of the molecule and its local environment, which in turn can cause it to pack into different structures, from planar lamellar membranes to curved micelles or reversed phases. It is also recognized, though less explored, that the supramolecular structure can, in turn, affect the pKa value of the molecule. We explored this possibility with oleic acid molecules and found that the apparent pKa changed by two pH units when the surfactant was forced to remain on a flat surface, compared to the value of the aggregate in suspension, where the molecule adopts the most stable supramolecular structure for each ionization state. The pKa shifted to higher values when fatty acid was forced to form planar structures, and the pH range in which neutral and ionic species coexist (conditions under which lamellar vesicles form spontaneously) increased. Thus, we propose that it is possible to control the ionization state of molecules adsorbed onto a surface, and consequently the surface charge, by modifying surface roughness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid–Liquid Interface Science: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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