Deciphering the impact mechanisms of non-uniform wetting surfaces on vaporization nucleation

Traditional nucleation theories, designed for uniform surfaces, often fall short in explaining premature nucleation phenomena on non-uniform surfaces. This study employs a novel pressure-controlled approach in molecular dynamics simulations to investigate nucleation dynamics on non-uniform surfaces. Our findings reveal significant insights: hydrophilic surfaces exhibit maximal temperature elevation of the liquid film within the same timeframe, contrasting with the lowest nucleation energy observed on hydrophobic surfaces. Particularly, the 1-0000 surface configuration (combining hydrophilic and conical hydrophobic structures) demonstrates earliest nucleation times. Elevated temperatures consistently accelerate nucleation while reducing surface heterogeneity. Detailed surface analysis elucidates the nuanced nucleation mechanisms on non-uniform surfaces, highlighting the intricate balance between liquid film kinetic energy and surface nucleation energy. Optimizing the ratio and structure of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components emerges as a pivotal strategy to enhance liquid film kinetic energy while minimizing surface nucleation energy, thereby promoting vapor nucleation efficiency. These insights are pivotal for advancing heat transfer performance and operational efficiency in engineering applications.