Water Vapor and Alcohol Vapor Induced Healing of the Nanostructured KBr Surface.

ABSTRACT: Using atomic force microscopy in the pressure range of 10^-10 mbar to several tens of mbar at room temperature, we demonstrate the restructuring of nanostructured KBr surfaces assisted by the presence of water, methanol, and ethanol vapors and the formation of solvation islands. On a flat KBr surface, the two-dimensional solvation islands start nucleating at the step edges and grow with time and with increasing relative pressure. Solvation islands of water wet the terraces; however, solvation islands of methanol and ethanol are localized around the step edges and do not wet the terraces. Two processes are observed on nanostructured KBr surfaces: the movement of the atomic steps and the formation of solvation islands. The first process takes place at comparatively lower pressures

SUBMITTER: Parida S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9377354 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature