In situ studies of capillary filling in nano-porous alumina

ORAL

Abstract

Manipulation of matter on nano-scale requires thorough understanding of fundamental properties of materials defined by surface and interfacial phenomena, rather than bulk structure. We report studies of capillary filling in nano-porous alumina with a liquid solvent (perfluoromethyl-cyclohexane) as a function of the offset in chemical potential from liquid-vapor coexistence. Nano-porous alumina samples contains nearly hexagonally ordered, geometrically aligned cylindrical pores of $\sim $15nm diameter and aspect ratio of 1:4,000. Small-angle x-ray scattering measurements make it possible to observe formation of nano-scale wetting film at pore walls and to characterize the film thickness as the chemical potential is varied. Our data indicates a gradual thickening of a liquid film thickness on the capillary walls followed by a nearly discontinuous jump as pores get entirely filled.

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Authors

  • Kyle Alvine

  • Oleg Shpyrko

  • Peter Pershan

    Harvard University, Physics Department and DEAS, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138

  • Kyusoon Shin

  • Thomas P. Russell

    UMASS Amherst, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Department of Polymer Sciece and Engineering, U. of Massachusetts, University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Dept. of Polymer Science and Eng. UMASS - Amherst, Polymer Sci. Eng. Univ. of Mass at Amherst