Spinodal de-wetting of light liquids on graphene

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical study of spinodal de-wetting phenomena in light atom liquids on suspended graphene, revealing micron-sized pattern formations driven by weak van der Waals forces.

Contribution

It extends existing film growth theory to include surface instabilities, providing detailed analysis of spinodal de-wetting patterns on 2D materials like graphene.

Findings

Identification of micron-sized de-wetting patterns

Weak van der Waals interactions cause instabilities

Applicable to various 2D materials

Abstract

We demonstrate theoretically the possibility of spinodal de-wetting in heterostructures made of light--atom liquids (hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen) deposited on suspended graphene. Extending our theory of film growth on two-dimensional materials to include analysis of surface instabilities via the hydrodynamic Cahn--Hilliard-type equation, we characterize in detail the resulting spinodal de-wetting patterns. Both linear stability analysis and advanced computational treatment of the surface hydrodynamics show micron-sized (generally material and atom dependent) patterns of "dry" regions. The physical reason for the development of such instabilities on graphene can be traced back to the inherently weak van der Waals interactions between atomically thin materials and atoms in the liquid. Similar phenomena occur in doped graphene and other two-dimensional materials, such as monolayer dichalcogenides. Thus two-dimensional materials represent a universal theoretical and technological platform for studies of spinodal de-wetting.