Why surface nanobubbles live for hours

TL;DR

This paper introduces a theoretical model explaining why surface nanobubbles can remain stable for hours or days, contrary to previous expectations of microsecond lifetimes, due to limited gas diffusion, clustering, and contact line pinning.

Contribution

The paper provides a novel theoretical explanation for the long stability of surface nanobubbles, integrating effects of gas diffusion, clustering, and contact line pinning.

Findings

Nanobubbles can last hours or days instead of microseconds.

Limited gas diffusion slows dissolution.

Cluster effects and contact line pinning enhance stability.

Abstract

We present a theoretical model for the experimentally found but counter-intuitive exceptionally long lifetime of surface nanobubbles. We can explain why, under normal experimental conditions, surface nanobubbles are stable for many hours or even up to days rather than the expected microseconds. The limited gas diffusion through the water in the far field, the cooperative effect of nanobubble clusters, and the pinned contact line of the nanobubbles lead to the slow dissolution rate.