Nanoparticle Adsorption at Liquid–Vapor Surfaces: Influence of Nanoparticle Thermodynamics, Wettability, and Line Tension

We developed a statistical mechanical theory that describes the adsorption of nanoparticles (NPs) at liquid–vapor surfaces. This theory accounts for the surface to bulk NP thermodynamic equilibrium, as well as the NP mechanical equilibrium, wettability, and line tension at liquid–vapor surfaces. The theory is tested by examining the adsorption of 5 nm diameter dodecanethiol-ligated gold NPs at the liquid–vapor surface of a homologous series of n-alkane solvents, from n-nonane to n-octadecane, where the NP wettability decreases with an increasing n-alkane chain length.