Reverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactant
The minimization of surface area, as a result of the minimization of (positive) surface energy, is a well-known driving force behind the spontaneous broadening of (nano) particle size distribution. We show that surfactant molecules binding to particle surfaces effectively decrease the surface energy...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI
2020
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| _version_ | 1826306513363271680 |
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| author | Burlakov, V Goriely, A |
| author_facet | Burlakov, V Goriely, A |
| author_sort | Burlakov, V |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | The minimization of surface area, as a result of the minimization of (positive) surface energy, is a well-known driving force behind the spontaneous broadening of (nano) particle size distribution. We show that surfactant molecules binding to particle surfaces effectively decrease the surface energy and may change its sign. In this case, contrary to the expected broadening behavior, a minimum of free energy is achieved at the maximum surface area for all particles, i.e., when the particles are identical. Numerical simulations based on the classical Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner theory with surfactant-induced surface energy renormalization confirm the collapse of the particle size distribution. As the particle size evolution is much slower than particle nucleation and growth, the manipulation of surface energy with in-situ replacement of surfactant molecules provides a method for controlling particle size distribution with great potential for creating mono-disperse nanoparticles, a key goal of nanotechnology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T06:49:05Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:fbe3836c-8bbb-478f-8192-04d19096209f |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T06:49:05Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:fbe3836c-8bbb-478f-8192-04d19096209f2022-03-27T13:17:03ZReverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactantJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:fbe3836c-8bbb-478f-8192-04d19096209fEnglishSymplectic ElementsMDPI2020Burlakov, VGoriely, AThe minimization of surface area, as a result of the minimization of (positive) surface energy, is a well-known driving force behind the spontaneous broadening of (nano) particle size distribution. We show that surfactant molecules binding to particle surfaces effectively decrease the surface energy and may change its sign. In this case, contrary to the expected broadening behavior, a minimum of free energy is achieved at the maximum surface area for all particles, i.e., when the particles are identical. Numerical simulations based on the classical Lifshitz–Slyozov–Wagner theory with surfactant-induced surface energy renormalization confirm the collapse of the particle size distribution. As the particle size evolution is much slower than particle nucleation and growth, the manipulation of surface energy with in-situ replacement of surfactant molecules provides a method for controlling particle size distribution with great potential for creating mono-disperse nanoparticles, a key goal of nanotechnology. |
| spellingShingle | Burlakov, V Goriely, A Reverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactant |
| title | Reverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactant |
| title_full | Reverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactant |
| title_fullStr | Reverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactant |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactant |
| title_short | Reverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactant |
| title_sort | reverse coarsening and the control of particle size 2 distribution through surfactant |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT burlakovv reversecoarseningandthecontrolofparticlesize2distributionthroughsurfactant AT gorielya reversecoarseningandthecontrolofparticlesize2distributionthroughsurfactant |