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Capillary Imbibition of Binary Fluid Mixtures in Nanochannels
Thejas Hulikal Chakrapani1, Wouter K den Otter1
1MultiScale Mechancs, Faculty of Engineering Technology and MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede 7500 AE, The Netherlands.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|September 30, 2020
Summary
Binary fluid mixtures in nanochannels show surprising segregation. The less-wetting fluid leads the imbibition front due to wall interactions and flow dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Understanding fluid behavior in confined geometries is crucial for nanotechnology.
- Nanochannel imbibition dynamics are complex, especially for mixtures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the imbibition dynamics of binary fluid mixtures in cylindrical nanochannels.
- To elucidate the mechanisms behind fluid segregation during nanochannel filling.
Main Methods:
- Many-body Dissipative Particle Dynamics (MDPD) simulations were employed.
- Simulations focused on binary fluid mixtures with varying wall affinities.
- Analysis of fluid distribution and flow velocity within the nanochannel.
Main Results:
- Strong fluid segregation observed, driven by differential wall affinities.
- The less-wetting fluid unexpectedly enriched the imbibition front.
- A monolayer of the more-wetting fluid lined the nanochannel walls, expelling the other fluid.
Conclusions:
- Fluid segregation in nanochannels is governed by a complex interplay of wetting properties and flow.
- The findings challenge simple assumptions about imbibition in mixtures.
- Mixing wetting and non-wetting fluids facilitates the entry of non-wetting components into pores.
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