Title

Size dependence of the contact angle of liquid clusters of Bi and Sn supported on SiO<sub>2</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, graphite, diamond and AlN.

Authors

Murai, J.; Marukawa, T.; Mima, T.; Arai, S.; Sasaki, K.; Saka, H.

Abstract

Crystalline clusters of Bi and Sn with the diameters ranging from 100 to 5 nm were prepared by in situ evaporation on to different kinds of substrates in a transmission electron microscope. These metal clusters were then heated to the molten state and behaviour of the metal liquid clusters observed in situ in the transmission electron microscope. The contact angle of liquid clusters of Bi and Sn on different kinds of substrates changes as a function of the size of liquid metal clusters. It was concluded that the interfacial energy between the substrates and liquid metals depends on the size of liquid metal clusters and changes significantly at around 20 nm.

Subjects

SURFACE chemistry; CONTACT angle; METAL clusters; LIQUID metals; TRANSMISSION electron microscopes; EVAPORATION (Chemistry)

Publication

Journal of Materials Science, 2006, Vol 41, Issue 9, p2723

ISSN

0022-2461

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1007/s10853-006-7875-y