Particle tracking around surface nanobubbles

TL;DR

This study uses particle tracking to investigate gas flow around surface nanobubbles, finding no detectable difference in particle movement, which questions the dynamic equilibrium model explaining nanobubble stability.

Contribution

The paper provides experimental evidence challenging the dynamic equilibrium model by analyzing particle movement near nanobubbles.

Findings

No detectable difference in particle movement above nanobubbles

Particle flow measurements do not support the dynamic equilibrium hypothesis

Results suggest alternative explanations for nanobubble stability

Abstract

The exceptionally long lifetime of surface nanobubbles remains one of the biggest questions in the field. One of the proposed mechanisms for the stability is the \emph{dynamic equilibrium} model, which describes a constant flux of gas in and out of the bubble. Here, we describe results from particle tracking experiments to measure this flow. The results are analysed by measuring the Vorono\"i cell size distribution, the diffusion, and speed of the tracer particles. We show that there is no detectable difference in the movement of particles above nanobubble-laden surfaces, as compared to nanobubble-free surfaces.