Humidity-dependent surface tension measurements of individual inorganic and organic submicrometre liquid particles.

ABSTRACT: Surface tension, an important property of liquids, is easily measured for bulk samples. However, for droplets smaller than one micron in size, there are currently no reported measurements. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and force spectroscopy have been utilized to measure surface tension of individual submicron sized droplets at ambient pressure and controlled relative humidity (RH). Since the surface tension of atmospheric aerosols is a key factor in understanding aerosol climate effects, three atmospherically relevant systems (NaCl, malonic and glutaric acids) were studied. Single particle AFM measurements were successfully implemented in measuring the surface tension of deliquesced particles on the order of 200 to 500 nm in diameter. Deliquesced particles continuously upta

SUBMITTER: Morris HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5490419 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature