Quantum Physisorption of Gas in Nanoporous Media: A New Perspective

Although numerous investigations have revealed the gas physisorption characteristics of porous media, the essence of physisorption behavior of gas within nanoscale space is still indistinct. We speculated that the physisorption behavior of a complex molecular system (e.g., CH4 and CO2) exhibits a quantum effect due to the confinement effect of nanopores. Gas molecules occur in varied orbitals following certain probabilities and, therefore, have separate energy levels inside a nanoscale space. Energy level transition of molecules from excited state to ground state triggers gas physisorption, while non-uniform spatial distribution of energy-quantized molecules within nanopores dominates the gas physisorption behavior. The spatial distribution of gas molecules can be adjusted by temperature, pressure and potential energy field. Based on the quantum effect, we developed a physisorption equation from the perspective of quantum mechanics to re-understand the basic principles of gas physisorption within nanopores.

Automated summary

Although the gas physisorption characteristics of porous media have been extensively investigated, the nature of gas physisorption behavior within nanoscale space remains unclear. We propose that the physisorption behavior of complex molecular systems, such as CH4 and CO2, exhibits a quantum effect due to the confinement effect of nanopores. Gas molecules exist in different orbitals and have separate energy levels inside nanoscale space. The spatial distribution of energy-quantized molecules within nanopores, influenced by temperature, pressure, and potential energy fields, dominates gas physisorption behavior. Based on the quantum effect, we developed a physisorption equation from the perspective of quantum mechanics to re-understand the basic principles of gas physisorption within nanopores.