Co-condensation of nonane and D2O in a supersonic nozzle.

Abstract

We study the unary and binary nucleation and growth of nonane-D2O nanodroplets in a supersonic nozzle. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy measurements provide the overall composition of the droplets and Small Angle X-ray Scattering experiments measure the size and number density of the droplets. The unary nucleation rates Jmax of nonane, 9.4 × 10(15) < Jmax /cm(-3) s(-1) < 2.0 × 10(16), and those of D2O, 2.4 × 10(17) < Jmax /cm(-3) s(-1) < 4.1 × 10(17), measured here agree well with previous results. In most of the binary condensation experiments new particle formation is dominated by D2O, but the observed nucleation rates are decreased by up to a factor of 6 relative to the rates measured for pure D2O, an effect that can be partly explained by non-isothermal nucleation theory. The subsequent condensation of D2O is inhibited both by the increased temperature of the binary droplets relative to the pure D2O droplets, and because the binary droplet surface is expected to be comprised largely of nonane. For the one case where nonane appears to initiate condensation, we find that the nucleation rate is about 50% higher than that observed for pure nonane at comparable pv0, consistent with significant particle formation driven by D2O.