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Adsorption trajectories of nonspherical particles at liquid interfaces
S O Morgan1, J Fox1,2, C Lowe1
1Department of Physics & Mathematics, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom.
Physical Review. E
|May 19, 2021
Summary
This study models colloidal particle adsorption at liquid interfaces, revealing the interplay of forces that govern wetting dynamics. The findings aid in designing efficient assembly processes for complex particles.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and surface science
- Soft matter physics
- Computational materials science
Background:
- Adsorption of colloidal particles at liquid interfaces is crucial for scientific and industrial applications.
- The dynamics of this adsorption process, particularly for non-spherical particles, remain poorly understood.
- Understanding these dynamics is key to controlling interfacial phenomena and material self-assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the adsorption dynamics of ellipsoidal colloids at a liquid interface using a computational model.
- To elucidate the interplay between capillary, viscous, and contact line forces during particle adsorption.
- To provide insights for designing efficient assembly processes of complex particles at interfaces.
Main Methods:
- Development of a Langevin model coupled with a finite element model to simulate interfacial deformations.
- Incorporation of transient contact line pinning effects by renormalizing friction coefficients and using dynamic contact angles.
- Analysis of particle orientation and height variations over time during the adsorption process.
Main Results:
- The model successfully reproduces experimentally observed monotonic variations in particle orientation over time.
- Quantitative agreement with experimental adsorption dynamics was achieved for some ellipsoidal systems.
- Accurate prediction of adsorption trajectories (particle orientation vs. height) was demonstrated even for systems with discrepancies in dynamics.
- Clarification of the roles of capillary, viscous, and contact line forces in wetting dynamics.
Conclusions:
- The developed model provides a valuable tool for understanding and predicting colloidal particle adsorption at liquid interfaces.
- The study highlights the importance of considering interfacial deformations and contact line dynamics.
- Findings can guide the design of advanced self-assembly techniques for micro- and nanoscale objects.
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