Tuning Contact Angles of Aqueous Droplets on Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Surfaces by Surfactants.

ABSTRACT: Adsorption of small amphiphilic molecules occurs in various biological and technological processes, sometimes desired while other times unwanted (e.g., contamination). Surface-active molecules preferentially bind to interfaces and affect their wetting properties. We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the adsorption of short-chained alcohols (simple surfactants) to the water-vapor interface and solid surfaces of various polarities. With a theoretical analysis, we derive an equation for the adsorption coefficient, which scales exponentially with the molecular surface area and the surface wetting coefficient and is in good agreement with the simulation results. We apply the outcomes to aqueous sessile droplets containing surfactants, where the competition of surfactant adsorptions to

SUBMITTER: Staniscia F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9082615 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature