Adsorption-modulated dynamical stability of nanobubbles at the solid–liquid interface

Abstract We study the effects of gas adsorption on the dynamics and stability of nanobubbles at the solid–liquid interface. The phase diagram and dynamic evolution of surface nanobubbles were analyzed under varying equilibrium adsorption constant. Four distinct dynamic behaviors appear in the phase diagram: shrinking to dissolution, expanding to bursting, shrinking to stability, and expanding to stability. Special boundary states are identified in phase diagram, where the continuous growth of nanobubbles can take place even under very weak gas–surface interaction or with very small initial bubble size. Surface adsorption plays a critical role in the stability, lifetime, radius, and contact angle of nanobubbles, thereby demonstrating that pinning is not a prerequisite for stabilization. Furthermore, stable equilibrium nanobubbles exhibit a characteristic range of footprint radius, a limited height, and a small contact angle, consistent with experimental observations.