Condensation on liquids has been studied extensively in context of breath figure templating, materials synthesis and enhancing heat transfer using liquid impregnated surfaces. However, the mechanics of nucleation and growth on liquids remains unclear, especially on liquids that spread on the condensate. By examining the energy barriers of nucleation, we provide a framework to choose liquids that can lead to enhanced nucleation. We show that due to limits of vapor sorption within a liquid, nucleation is most favoured at the liquid-air interface and demonstrate that on spreading liquids, droplet submergence within the liquid occurs thereafter. We provide a direct visualization of the thin liquid profile that cloaks the condensed droplet on a liquid impregnated surface and elucidate the vapour transport mechanism in the liquid films. Finally, we show that although the viscosity of the liquid does not affect droplet nucleation, it plays a crucial role in droplet growth.
How droplets nucleate and grow on liquids and liquid impregnated surfaces.
S. Anand,K. Rykaczewski,Srinivas Bengaluru Subramanyam,D. Beysens,K. Varanasi
Published 2015 in Soft Matter
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2015
- Venue
Soft Matter
- Publication date
2015-01-07
- Fields of study
Medicine, Materials Science
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- condensation on liquids
Condensation in which vapor forms droplets on a liquid substrate rather than on a solid surface.
Aliases: condensation on liquid surfaces
- droplet growth
The increase in droplet size after nucleation by continued condensation or mass uptake.
Aliases: growth of droplets
- droplet submergence
The partial or complete engulfment of a droplet by an overlying liquid layer.
Aliases: submergence within the liquid
- liquid-air interface
The boundary between the liquid phase and the surrounding air where condensation can begin.
Aliases: liquid surface interface
- liquid impregnated surfaces
Surfaces infused with a liquid layer that can cloak or interact with condensed droplets.
Aliases: liquid-impregnated surfaces, LIS
- nucleation on liquids
Formation of stable droplet nuclei when vapor condenses on a liquid substrate.
Aliases: droplet nucleation on liquids
- spreading liquids
Liquids that wet and extend over a surface or condensate rather than remaining pinned.
Aliases: spreading liquid layers
- thin liquid profile
A very thin liquid film or cloak surrounding a condensed droplet.
Aliases: thin liquid cloak
- vapour transport mechanism
The pathway by which vapor moves through liquid films toward a condensed droplet.
Aliases: vapor transport mechanism, vapour transport in liquid films
- viscosity of the liquid
The liquid's resistance to flow, which characterizes the dynamics of the surrounding liquid layer.
Aliases: liquid viscosity
REFERENCES
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