Microscopic behavior of nano-water droplets on a silica glass surface

Abstract

Abstract Recent advancements in computational science and interfacial measurements have sparked interest in microscopic water droplets and their diverse behaviors. A previous study using nonlinear spectroscopy revealed the heterogeneous wetting phenomenon of silica glass in response to humidity. Building on this premise, we employed high-resolution atomic force microscopy to investigate the wetting dynamics of silica glass surfaces at various humidity levels. Our observations revealed the spontaneous formation of nano-water droplets at a relative humidity of 50%. In contrast to the conventional model, which predicts the spreading of nanodroplets to form a uniform water film, our findings demonstrate the coexistence of nano-water droplets and the liquid film. Moreover, the mobility of the nano-water droplets suggests their potential in inducing the transport of adsorbates on solid surfaces. These results may contribute to the catalytic function of solid materials.