Abstract
Natural surfaces are often structured with nanometre-scale domains, yet a framework providing a quantitative understanding of how nanostructure affects interfacial energy, γ SL, is lacking. Conventional continuum thermodynamics treats γ SL solely as a function of average composition, ignoring structure. Here we show that, when a surface has domains commensurate in size with solvent molecules, γ SL is determined not only by its average composition but also by a structural component that causes γ SL to deviate from the continuum prediction by a substantial amount, as much as 20% in our system. By contrasting surfaces coated with either molecular- (2 nm) or larger-scale domains (
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 837-842 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Nature Materials |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanics of Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science(all)
- Chemistry(all)