Characterisation of the crystallisable water in precious opal using differential scanning calorimetry and synchrotron terahertz spectroscopy

Thomas, PS; Mansell, B; Appadoo, D; Smallwood, AS; Aldridge, L; Stuart, BH

Characterisation of the crystallisable water in precious opal using differential scanning calorimetry and synchrotron terahertz spectroscopy

Thomas, PS Mansell, B Appadoo, D Smallwood, AS Aldridge, L Stuart, BH

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Publisher:: SPRINGER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 2024
Issue Date:: 2024-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Thomas, PS
dc.contributor.author	Mansell, B
dc.contributor.author	Appadoo, D
dc.contributor.author	Smallwood, AS
dc.contributor.author	Aldridge, L
dc.contributor.author	Stuart, BH
dc.date.accessioned	2025-01-30T05:59:13Z
dc.date.available	2025-01-30T05:59:13Z
dc.date.issued	2024-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 2024
dc.identifier.issn	1388-6150
dc.identifier.issn	1588-2926
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/184662
dc.description.abstract	Crystallisation of water in a series of precious opal samples with opal-A and opal-CT morphologies has been characterised using low-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature-dependent terahertz/far-infrared (THz/Far-IR) spectroscopy. The melting temperature for the crystallisable water in the opals was observed to be depressed reflecting a microporous environment and was found to be consistent for both DSC and THz spectroscopy. Based on melt temperature depression, the size range of the pores for the opal-CT was estimated to be in the range 3–6 nm while for opal-A the range was 4 to >50 nm, indicating differing microstructures between opal-A and -CT. The THz/Far-IR spectroscopy indicated the presence of both crystalline and amorphous ice on solidification of the water, although phase identification of the crystalline ice was not possible. Notably, to the authors knowledge, this paper represents the first use of THz/Far-IR spectroscopy in the temperature-dependent characterisation of water and ice encapsulated in micropores.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	SPRINGER
dc.relation	Australian Synchrotron Research Program
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s10973-024-13825-x
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, 0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural), 0399 Other Chemical Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Physical Chemistry
dc.subject.classification	3406 Physical chemistry
dc.title	Characterisation of the crystallisable water in precious opal using differential scanning calorimetry and synchrotron terahertz spectroscopy
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.for	0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
utslib.for	0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
utslib.for	0399 Other Chemical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Centre for Built Infrastructure Resilience (CBIR)
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2025-01-30T05:59:12Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

Crystallisation of water in a series of precious opal samples with opal-A and opal-CT morphologies has been characterised using low-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature-dependent terahertz/far-infrared (THz/Far-IR) spectroscopy. The melting temperature for the crystallisable water in the opals was observed to be depressed reflecting a microporous environment and was found to be consistent for both DSC and THz spectroscopy. Based on melt temperature depression, the size range of the pores for the opal-CT was estimated to be in the range 3–6 nm while for opal-A the range was 4 to >50 nm, indicating differing microstructures between opal-A and -CT. The THz/Far-IR spectroscopy indicated the presence of both crystalline and amorphous ice on solidification of the water, although phase identification of the crystalline ice was not possible. Notably, to the authors knowledge, this paper represents the first use of THz/Far-IR spectroscopy in the temperature-dependent characterisation of water and ice encapsulated in micropores.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/184662