Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures
Published on: November 14, 2025
Internal pressure and surface tension of bare and hydrogen coated silicon nanoparticles
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Chemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.
Abstract:
We present a study of internal pressure and surface tension of bare and hydrogen coated silicon nanoparticles of 2-10 nm diameter as a function of temperature, using molecular dynamics simulations employing a reparametrized Kohen-Tully-Stillinger interatomic potential. The internal pressure was found to increase with decreasing particle size but the density was found to be independent of the particle size. We showed that for covalent bond structures, changes in surface curvature and the associated surface forces were not sufficient to significantly change bond lengths and angles. Thus, the surface tension was also found to be independent of the particle size. Surface tension was found to decrease with increasing particle temperature while the internal pressure did not vary with temperature. The presence of hydrogen on the surface of a particle significantly reduces surface tension (e.g., drops from 0.83 J/m(2) to 0.42 J/m(2) at 1500 K). The computed pressure of bare and coated particles was found to follow the classical Laplace-Young equation.
Related Concept Videos
Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
Surface Tension and Surface Energy
Consider a beaker filled with liquid. The bulk molecules in the liquid experience equal attractive forces on all sides with the surrounding molecules. However, the surface molecules experience a net attractive force downward due to the bulk molecules. The surface of the liquid behaves like a stretched membrane,...
Surface Tension
Surface Tension of Fluid
Surface tension varies with...

