Constrained lattice density functional theory and its applications on vapor–liquid nucleations

约束晶格密度泛函理论及其在气液相变成核上的应用(英文)

Vapor-liquid phase transition occurs via a nucleation process, and depending on the role of foreign objects, nucleation can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. In this review, we focus on the recently developed constrained lattice density functional theory （CLDFT） and its applications on vapor-liquid nucleation. We also review the recent theoretical advance on the stability of nanobubbles. Based on CLDFT, a pinning and supersaturation mechanism has proposed to interpret the surprising stability of surface nanobubbles. The mechanism can interpret most characteristics of nanobubbles. More importantly, the mechanism suggests that the critical nucleus can be stabilized under the condition of contact line pinning. Thus, CLDFT studies provide an alternative way to measure the critical nucleus that is difficult to measure experimentally in the bulk solution, through stabilizing it with surface roughness or heterogeneities.

气液相变是通过成核过程而实现的,根据是否存在外来物,成核过程可以分为均相成核和非均相成核.本文着重介绍了最近提出的约束晶格密度泛函理论及其在气液相变成核上的应用,同时我们也介绍了纳米气泡稳定性研究的一些进展,特别是接触线锚定-过饱和机理的提出.该机理不仅可以解释纳米气泡的大部分特征,更重要的是它暗示了临界核在三相接触线锚定情况下可以稳定存在.依据约束晶格密度泛函理论提出的接触线锚定-过饱和机理,为开发一种临界核的实验测量方法提供了理论基础.