Ionic adsorption on bulk nanobubble interfaces and its uncertain role in diffusive stability
Ions adsorb onto the liquid-gas interface, confirming an Electric Double Layer (EDL) distribution around the nanobubble with an estimated zeta potential, in accordance with experiments. However, we find no significant electrostatic stress exerted on the nanobubble surface, as any ion charge density in the EDL is completely neutralised by the rearrangement of the water molecules. As a result, the internal gas pressure is still well predicted by the standard Laplace pressure equation (with a fitted Tolman length correction ), challenging an essential assumption underlying the previously proposed theories, and we instead speculate on alternative mechanisms for electrostatic-based stability.
Authors
- J. F. Mifsud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7231-0217)
- Duncan Dockar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5705-0581)
- Matthew K. Borg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7740-1932)
- Patrick Sullivan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3547-9560)
- Livio Gibelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0104-828X)
Institutions
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Durham University (GB)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
- Published
- 2025-05-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.137747
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Minerals Flotation and Separation Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.90
Funders
- Royal Academy of Engineering