How volatile components stabilize bulk nanobubbles: a model study

TL;DR

This study explains how volatile components like CO2 help stabilize tiny gas bubbles in liquids, which could have applications in various scientific and industrial processes.

Contribution

The paper introduces a thermodynamic model showing how volatile components stabilize nanobubbles through a negative-feedback mechanism.

Findings

Volatile components create a negative-feedback mechanism that stabilizes nanobubbles by balancing gas exchange.

Nanobubbles without volatile components fail to remain stable over time.

The synergy between volatile and non-condensable gases is crucial for long-term nanobubble stability.

Abstract

Although bulk nanobubbles have been widely studied, the contribution of volatile components to their stability remains largely unexplored.

This work investigates the stabilizing effect of volatile components (e.g., CO2, short-chain hydrocarbons) on nanobubbles in liquid bulk. A thermodynamic model is established to account for the dynamic equilibrium between non-condensable gas (exemplified by oxygen) and volatile species inside the bubble. The model was developed and validated using molecular dynamics simulations.

The findings demonstrate that volatile components introduce a negative-feedback mechanism that balances gas exchange across the bubble interface, thereby enabling long-term stability. By contrast, systems containing only non-condensable gases fail to sustain stable nanobubbles.

This study reveals that the synergistic interaction between volatile and non-condensable gases is a key mechanism for stabilizing bulk nanobubbles.

Figures