Stability of surface nanobubbles

ORAL

Abstract

Surface nanobubbles are spherical-cap-shaped gas bubbles of typical diameter of 100 nm and with typical thickness of 10 nm that can form in water at hydrophobic surfaces. Their stability is a mystery as due to Laplace pressure they should dissolve in microseconds. Brenner and Lohse (Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 214505 (2008)) had suggested that the nanobubbles are stabilized by a gas influx at the contact line, which compensates for the diffusive gas outflux. Here we give numerical support for this dynamic equilibrium stabilization mechanism from Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations with Lennard-Jones particles: Indeed, in these MD simulations we find a strong gas influx at the contact line. We also present analytical considerations on the diffusive gas fluxes around the bubble.

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Authors

  • Detlef Lohse

    The University of Twente, University of Twente, Physics of Fluids group, University of Twente, Physics of Fluids, Twente University, The Netherlands, University of Twente, The Netherlands, Physics of Fluids, University of Twente, Physics of Fluids Group, University of Twente

  • Joost Weijs

    University of Twente

  • Hanneke Gelderblom

    University of Twente

  • Jacco Snoeijer

    University of Twente