Abstract
We report the results of molecular-dynamics simulations of solvophobic nanoparticles in n -decane solvent. We observe that solvent ordering in the interparticle gap and solvation forces depend on the particle size and shape. Analogous to hydrophobic hydration, we observe dewetting of the interparticle region when the nanoparticle separation becomes smaller than a critical value of Îc. We observe that Îc exhibits a nonmonotonic dependence on nanoparticle size, in contrast to what is expected from studies of water. While studies of hydrophobic hydration indicate that two solute length scales govern hydrophobic interactions, our studies indicate that a third length scale can be important in the more general phenomenon of solvophobic solvation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 020401 |
Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics |
Volume | 74 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2006 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability
- Condensed Matter Physics