"Effective" negative surface tension: A property of coated nanoaerosols relevant to the atmosphere

P Chakraborty and MR Zachariah, JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A, 111, 5459-5464 (2007).

DOI: 10.1021/jp070226p

Atmospheric aerosols play a very important role in atmospheric processes and have a major influence on the global climate. In this paper, we report results of a molecular dynamics study on the unique properties of organic-coated water droplets. In particular, we find that, for particles preferring an inverted micelle structure, the lower chain- chain interaction, with increasing radial distance from the water- organic interface, results in a negative internal radial pressure profile for the organic layer. As a result, a coated particle behaves as though the surface tension is "negative" and implies that such a particle will inherently have an inverse Kelvin vapor pressure effect, resulting in increased water condensation.

Return to Publications page