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Potential of AFM–nanothermal analysis to study the microscale thermal characteristics in soils and natural organic matter (NOM)

  • SPECTRO-MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOGEOCHEMICAL INTERFACES IN SOIL
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Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 09 December 2011

Abstract

Purpose

This exploratory study evaluates the potential of nanothermal analysis (nTA) coupled with atomic force microscopy (AFM) of soil samples for understanding physicochemical processes in soil and for linking the nanospatial and microspatial distribution of thermal characteristics with the macroscopic properties of soil samples.

Materials and methods

Soil and reference samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and AFM-nTA. nTA was conducted on 16 points of each AFM image in two subsequent heating cycles (55–120°C and 55–300°C, respectively). Thermograms were subdivided into characteristic types and their spatial distribution was compared between sample replicates and materials.

Results and discussion

Thermogram types consisted of partly structured expansion and compression phases, suggesting material-specific thermal profiles. The distribution of thermogram types reflected sample-dependent nanoscale and microscale heterogeneity. Indications for water molecule bridge transitions were found by nTA in peat and soil. Organic materials generally revealed strong expansion and irreversible compression phases, latter probably due to the collapse of pore and aggregate structures. In contrast to charcoal and manure, peat shows strong expansion below 120°C and compression only above 120°C.

Conclusions

All investigated samples are heterogeneous on the nanoscale and microscale with respect to thermal behaviour. AFM-nTA allows distinguishing numerous different materials on nanometre and micrometre scales in soil samples. The material-dependent characteristics will help in understanding and learning more about the nanoscale distribution of different materials and properties. Related to the macroscopic thermal behaviour, this will allow studying links between the properties of biogeochemical interfaces and the processes governed by them.

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Abbreviations

AFM:

Atomic force microscopy

AFM-nTA:

Atomic force microscopy coupled with nanothermal analysis

α :

Apparent expansion coefficient

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

EDX:

Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (respective spectroscopy)

ESEM:

Environmental scanning electron microscope (respective microscopy)

κ :

Apparent compression coefficient

L-TMA:

Localized thermomechanical analysis

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance

nTA:

Nanothermal analysis

ROI:

Region of interest

SOM:

Soil organic matter

TGA:

Thermogravimetric analysis

T g :

Glass transition temperature

T*:

WaMB transition temperature

TMA:

Thermomechanical analysis

WaMB:

Water molecule bridge

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Acknowledgements

This study has been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Project SCHA849/8 within the priority programme SPP 1315 Biogeochemical Interfaces in Soil. We also thank Dr. Jiri Kucerik for assistance in obtaining the ESEM pictures, Dr. Jette Schwarz for the DSC measurements and Ms. Priya Mary Abraham for assistance at AFM measurements and all of them for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Soil Chemistry, Institute for Environmental Sciences, Universität Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829, Landau, Germany

    Gabriele Ellen Schaumann & Yamuna Kunhi Mouvenchery

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  1. Gabriele Ellen Schaumann
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  2. Yamuna Kunhi Mouvenchery
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Correspondence to Gabriele Ellen Schaumann.

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Responsible editor: Michael Kersten

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11368-011-0459-8

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Schaumann, G.E., Kunhi Mouvenchery, Y. Potential of AFM–nanothermal analysis to study the microscale thermal characteristics in soils and natural organic matter (NOM). J Soils Sediments 12, 48–62 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-011-0443-3

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