Lixin Zhang

Dr. Lixin Zhang


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 July 2025 in Processes
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Journal Article
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LZLixin Zhang
Lixin Zhang
SZSonghang Zhang
Songhang Zhang
STShuheng Tang
Shuheng Tang
ZXZhaodong Xi
Zhaodong Xi
JLJianxin Li
Jianxin Li
WTWenguang Tian
Wenguang Tian
Water within coal reservoirs exerts dual effects on methane adsorption–desorption by competing for adsorption sites and reducing permeability. The bound water effect, caused by coal wettability, significantly constrains coalbed methane (CBM) production, rendering investigations into coal wettability crucial for efficient CBM development. Compared with other geological formations, coals are characterized by a highly developed microporous structure, making the CO2 sequestration mechanism in coal seams closely linked to the microscale interactions among gas, water, and coal matrixes. However, the intrinsic mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations are employed to investigate the wettability behaviors of CO2, CH4, and water on different coal matrix surfaces under varying temperature and pressure conditions, for coal macromolecules representative of four coal ranks. The study reveals the evolution of water wettability in response to CO2 and CH4 injection, identifies wettability differences among coal ranks, and analyzes the microscopic mechanisms governing wettability. The results show the following: (1) The contact angle increases with gas pressure, and the variation in wettability is more pronounced in CO2 environments than in CH4. As pressure increases, the number of hydrogen bonds decreases, while the peak gas density of CH4 and CO2 increases, leading to larger contact angles. (2) Simulations under different temperatures for the four coal ranks indicate that temperature has minimal influence on low-rank Hegu coal, whereas for higher-rank coals, gas adsorption on the coal surface increases, resulting in reduced wettability. Interfacial tension analysis further suggests that higher temperatures reduce water surface tension, cause dispersion of water molecules, and consequently improve wettability. Understanding the wettability variations among different coal ranks under variable pressure–temperature conditions provides a fundamental model and theoretical basis for investigating deep coal seam gas–water interactions and CO2 geological sequestration mechanisms. These findings have significant implications for the advancement of CO2-ECBM technology.