Direct observation of stick-slip movements of water nanodroplets induced by an electron beam

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 May 8;109(19):7187-90. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1200457109. Epub 2012 Apr 18.

Abstract

Dynamics of the first few nanometers of water at the interface are encountered in a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological phenomena. A simple but critical question is whether interfacial forces at these nanoscale dimensions affect an externally induced movement of a water droplet on a surface. At the bulk-scale water droplets spread on a hydrophilic surface and slip on a nonwetting, hydrophobic surface. Here we report the experimental description of the electron beam-induced dynamics of nanoscale water droplets by direct imaging the translocation of 10- to 80-nm-diameter water nanodroplets by transmission electron microscopy. These nanodroplets move on a hydrophilic surface not by a smooth flow but by a series of stick-slip steps. We observe that each step is preceded by a unique characteristic deformation of the nanodroplet into a toroidal shape induced by the electron beam. We propose that this beam-induced change in shape increases the surface free energy of the nanodroplet that drives its transition from stick to slip state.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Electrons*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Particle Size
  • Static Electricity
  • Surface Properties
  • Temperature
  • Thermodynamics
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Water