Nanoparticle adsorption at liquid-vapor surfaces: influence of nanoparticle thermodynamics, wettability, and line tension.

We developed a statistical mechanical theory that describes the adsorption of nanoparticles (NPs) at liquid-vapor surfaces. This theory accounts for the surface to bulk NP thermodynamic equilibrium, as well as the NP mechanical equilibrium, wettability, and line tension at liquid-vapor surfaces. The theory is tested by examining the adsorption of 5 nm diameter dodecanethiol-ligated gold NPs at the liquid-vapor surface of a homologous series of n-alkane solvents, from n-nonane to n-octadecane, where the NP wettability decreases with an increasing n-alkane chain length.