Quantification of Nucleation Site Density as a Function of Surface Wettability on Smooth Surfaces

Abstract

In most climatic conditions, radiative cooling of typical surfaces results in only a few degrees of subcooling, and dew only forms a few hours per night on some nights. [3,4] Even so, dew is considered an important source of water for basic sustenance of plants and animals, especially in arid and semiarid regions. [11,12] In the past 20 years, research has been dedicated to obtaining design principles that lead to the most efficient dew water collection on artificial surfaces. [3,[13][14][15] The efficiency of atmospheric water collection (as well as the efficiency of processes of industrial relevance, such as heat transfer in cooling towers) depends on the ability of a surface to first nucleate water droplets at a high rate, and shed those droplets at low volumes, so they can be collected. [16][17][18][19] Classical nucleation theory teaches that the free energy barrier for nucleation ΔG is lower for ideal planar surfaces that are highly wettable by water (low water contact angle), and can be estimated by the following equation [20]

Sorption‐Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting: Materials, Components, Systems, and Applications

“…[ 116 ] Consequently, studies to increase the efficiency of the condenser in DCC methods are also valid in SAWH. For example, in DCC, the initial and critical step of the condensing process is the nucleation of the droplets on the condenser surface, and the droplet nucleation site density on smooth thin polymer films can be calculated as a function of surface wettability, [ 117 ] which is also applicable to SAWH.…”

A Deeper Understanding of Metal Nucleation and Growth in Rechargeable Metal Batteries Through Theory and Experiment

“…Following Figure 4, the wetting angle θ can be reduced by using electrolytes and metal anodes (in CMBs) or CCs (in anode‐free batteries) that have high interfacial energies against one another ( γ CE ), or by decreasing the interfacial energy between the anode or CC and the deposited metal ( γ MC ) [43,50,53–54] . Strategies to increase γ CE have been explored in rigorous experimental works [56–58] .…”

Facilitating Sodium Nucleation in Anode-Free Sodium Batteries

“…The wetting angle can be decreased via high interfacial energies between the CC and SEI (γ CE ). Alternatively, low interfacial energies between the metal and CC (γ MC ) or between the metal and SEI (γ ME ) are also feasible. − , The former option has been thoroughly discussed; however the latter options have received less attention. ,− …”

“…Alternatively, low interfacial energies between the metal and CC (γ MC ) or between the metal and SEI (γ ME ) are also feasible. [23][24][25]27 The former option has been thoroughly discussed; however the latter options have received less attention. 2,28 −30 We hypothesize that Na deposition in anode-free batteries can be improved by using CCs with high crystallographic compatibility against Na metal.…”

“…Minimizing the Gibbs energy barrier improves metal nucleation in anode-free batteries, ultimately improving performance. ,,, The choice of CC has a critical impact on nucleation thermodynamics which can be considered through the wettability of metal on the CC. − The wetting angle θ is dependent on the interfacial energies between the metal, electrolyte, and CC according to Young’s equation in Figure . A small wetting angle improves the thermodynamics of the nucleation process.…”