Finite-size line tension effects for nanoparticles at the air-liquid surface*

The line tension of nanoparticles, at the air-liquid surface, can be deduced by examining the variation in surface tension with nanoparticle bulk concentration. The line tension of dodecane thiol ligated Au nanoparticles at the octadecane-air surface (at 30C) is found to vary with nanoparticle size. This finite-size line tension effect is qualitatively explained by integrating over the van der Waals contributions to the line tension at the three-phase solid-liquid-air contact line [1].

[1] H. Matsubara, J. Otsuka, and B. M. Law, Langmuir 34, 331 (2018).