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Nanoscale Contact Line Pinning Boosted by Ångström-Scale Surface Heterogeneity.

Yuta Heima1, Hideaki Teshima1,2, Koji Takahashi1,2

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Surface heterogeneity causes pinning forces in nanodroplets, deviating from macroscopic behavior. Glycerol nanodroplets on silicon dioxide showed stronger pinning, leading to irreversible liquid film formation.

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Area of Science:

  • Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Surface Science

Background:

  • The pinning effect is crucial in fluidic systems but poorly understood at the nanoscale.
  • Nanodroplet contact angles often deviate from macroscopic values, with the cause being debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the origin of contact angle deviations in nanodroplets.
  • To quantify pinning forces at the nanoscale.
  • To explore the behavior of nanodroplets on different substrates.

Main Methods:

  • Measurement of glycerol nanodroplet contact angles using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
  • Analysis of three-dimensional droplet shapes to infer surface interactions.
  • Comparison of nanodroplet behavior with macroscopic observations.

Main Results:

  • Ångström-scale surface heterogeneity induces pinning forces, explaining nanodroplet contact angle deviations.
  • Pinning forces on glycerol nanodroplets on silicon dioxide were found to be twice as large as on macroscale droplets.
  • Strong pinning led to an irreversible transition from a nanodroplet to a flat liquid film.

Conclusions:

  • Surface heterogeneity is a primary driver of nanoscale pinning effects.
  • Pinning forces significantly influence nanodroplet behavior and morphology.
  • A transition from interfacial tension to adsorption forces can occur under strong pinning conditions.