Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026
08:02
Fabricating High-viscosity Droplets using Microfluidic Capillary Device with Phase-inversion Co-flow Structure
Published on: April 17, 2018
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Chemistry in evaporating sessile droplets.
Sujay Paul1, Arun Chattopadhyay1,2
1Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India. arun@iitg.ac.in.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|April 28, 2026
Summary
Evaporating nanoparticle droplets exhibit unique single-phase transitions and plasmon-catalyzed reactions, unlike microparticle deposition. This study reveals new insights into nanoparticle behavior during evaporation for advanced material fabrication.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Sessile droplet evaporation is crucial for 2D thin-film fabrication via inkjet printing.
- While microparticle deposition is understood, nanoparticle-laden droplet evaporation presents unique chemical phenomena requiring investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the chemical phenomena during nanoparticle-laden droplet evaporation.
- To understand nanoparticle deposition kinetics, surface chemistry, and interactions within deposits.
- To explore applications in inkjet printing and 2D material fabrication.
Main Methods:
- Utilized surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to monitor nanoparticle deposition.
- Investigated chemical interactions and reactions at the three-phase contact line.
- Analyzed the effect of nanoparticle size, concentration, and pH on deposition patterns.
Main Results:
- Discovered single-phase transitions in plasmonic nanoparticle deposition, differing from microparticle behavior.
- Differentiated between intrananoparticle and internanoparticle plasmon-catalyzed reactions.
- Observed pH-dependent deposition steps and anomalous 2D crystal formation from molecular solutions.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals novel chemical pathways in nanoparticle deposition during droplet evaporation.
- Findings offer potential for advanced liquid-based printing techniques and 2D moiré superlattices.
- Highlights the importance of understanding nanoparticle surface chemistry for material design.
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