Surface force at the nano-scale: observation of non-monotonic surface tension and disjoining pressure.

Abstract

Nano bubbles and films are important in theory and various applications, such as the specific ion effect of bubble coalescence, flotation and porous medium seepage; these rely greatly on the fundamental aspects of extended-DLVO surface forces. However, the origin and validation of the non-DLVO forces are still obscure, especially at the nano scale (1-5 nm). Herein, we report the first determination of the disjoining pressures of aqueous electrolyte nano-films using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our results showed that adding salt does not lead to a decrease in the disjoining pressure. On the contrary, higher concentrations results in greater disjoining pressures. In addition, the temperature was found to significantly change the pattern of the disjoining pressure isotherm. These results aid the understanding of a number of underlying mechanisms, involving nano solid-liquid-gas surfaces.