Nanodroplet Condensation on Solid Surfaces

TL;DR

This paper presents a stochastic mesoscale model to simulate vapor-liquid transitions, elucidating how surface wettability influences condensation regimes and highlighting limitations of classical nucleation theory.

Contribution

It introduces a novel simulation approach combining fluctuating hydrodynamics and diffuse interface thermodynamics for condensation processes.

Findings

Wettability determines filmwise versus dropwise condensation.

Simulations reveal limitations of classical nucleation theory.

Model captures droplet nucleation and hydrodynamics from first principles.

Abstract

This paper deals with the condensation of liquid droplets on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. A stochastic mesoscale model based on the theory of fluctuating hydrodynamics and the thermodynamics of a diffuse interface approach shows how direct simulation of the vapour-liquid transition from the nucleation process to droplet hydrodynamics can be achieved. Such simulations explain the role of wettability in filmwise and dropwise condensation regimes and the main limitations of classical nucleation theory.