2004/10/01 by Anthony Saugey, Saugey, Anthony, Lyderic Bocquet +3
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #cond-mat.mtrl-sci
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.cond-mat/0410012
arxiv created 2004/10/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
We consider the nucleation process associated with capillary condensation of a vapor in a hydrophobic cylindrical pore (capillary evaporation). The liquid-vapor transition is described within the framework of a simple lattice model. The phase properties are characterized both at the mean-field level and using Monte-Carlo simulations. The nucleation process for the liquid to vapor transition is then specifically considered. Using umbrella sampling techniques, we show that nucleation occurs through the condensation of an asymmetric vapor bubble at the pore surface. Even for highly confined systems, good agreement is found with macroscopic considerations based on classical nucleation theory. The results are discussed in the context of recent experimental work on the extrusion of water in hydrophobic pores.