Controlling the location and spatial extent of nanobubbles using hydrophobically nanopatterned surfaces.
The presence of nanobubbles-as imaged with tapping-mode atomic force microscopy-is controlled using nanopatterned surfaces possessing repeating patterns of polystyrene (hydrophobic domains) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (hydrophilic domains). For nanobubbles to be present, we find that, in addition to controlling the degree of surface hydrophobicity, it is important for the spatial dimensions of the hydrophobic domains on the nanopatterned surface to be commensurate with the equilibrium topology of the nanobubbles.
Agrawal
Abhinandan
A
Hatsopoulos Microfluids Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Park
Juhyun
J
Ryu
Du Yeol
DY
Hammond
Paula T
PT
Russell
Thomas P
TP
McKinley
Gareth H
GH