Chapter 8 - Heterogeneous nucleation of water vapor

Abstract

Heterogeneous gas–liquid nucleation of water has to do with the wettability of the surface on which the nucleating clusters form. We discuss the basic concepts – contact angle and adsorption of water – relating to wettability before reviewing two heterogeneous nucleation theories, the adsorption nucleation theory and the classical nucleation theory. Ion-induced nucleation is also considered, especially from the viewpoint of ion–ion recombination and its effects on the nucleation rate. Experimental and theoretical results of heterogeneous nucleation are compared, and studies on dropwise condensation are discussed briefly.