Casimir–van der Waals Layer-by-Layer Films for Heavy-Metal Capture and Recovery

PROBLEM: At nanometre separations, Casimir and van der Waals dispersion forces between uncharged surfaces can influence how ions and particles approach a biosorbent film, yet layer-by-layer design usually considers only chemical binding. A film whose layers are spaced so that dispersion forces repel the target species will underperform its isotherm prediction, while one that attracts foulants will clog early. Designers need a model that includes these quantum-fluctuation forces alongside chemical binding.

SOLUTION: Storage Copy Data Management would provide a governed data capability that stores DFT-predicted chemical binding together with Casimir/van der Waals dispersion-force models for each layer spacing and composition in a layer-by-layer stack. The capability would version each film recipe, retain batch-isotherm validation, require regeneration and reuse accounting, and keep deposition, drying, and regeneration energy in the record. It governs the combined model rather than claiming capture performance.

EVIDENCE BASIS: Casimir/van der Waals dispersion forces are DOCUMENTED: quantum-fluctuation forces between uncharged surfaces at nanoscale; Casimir measured 1997 (Lamoreaux). DFT is based on Hohenberg–Kohn 1964 and Kohn–Sham 1965, Nobel Prize 1998. Biosorption binding follows R−COOH + M2+ ⇌ R−COOM+ + H+ and is validated by batch isotherms, qe = (C0 − Ce)V/m, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, textbook DOCUMENTED. Source: Lamoreaux 1997 Casimir measurement and textbook DFT and biosorption isotherm literature as summarised in the batch method.