Resonance-Driven Discrete Growth and Chemical Reactivity of Optically Levitated Droplets.

ABSTRACT: Optical levitation provides a powerful platform for probing the physicochemical properties of nano- and microparticles. In optical levitation experiments involving nonreacting droplets, metastable states, or so-called "thermally locked" states, can emerge. However, there has been no report on thermal locking induced by chemical reactions or the impact of thermal locking on the reaction mechanisms or rates. Herein, we investigate the growth of optically levitated aqueous droplets in which sulfate forms through the SO₂-NO₂ and the SO₂-Mn²⁺-O₂ heterogeneous reactions-2 environmentally important sulfate formation pathways. We observe (semi-)discrete droplet growth occurring via consecutive thermally locked states, which result from the com

SUBMITTER: Zhang K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12322492 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature