Condensation of supersaturated n-butanol vapor on charged/neutral nanoparticles of D-Mannose and L-rhamnose

The effects of size, charge, and solubility on the condensation of supersaturated n-butanol vapor on monodisperse nanoparticles of D-mannose and L-rhamnose are investigated in a flow cloud chamber. The dependence of the critical supersaturation S-cr on particle size in the range from 30 to 90 nm is determined experimentally. The results show that the experimental S-cr decreases with increasing particle size and solubility, qualitatively in agreement with the prediction by the Volmer theory of nucleation on soluble particles and by the Kohler theory, but quantitatively smaller than both theoretical predictions. The condensation of supersaturated vapor on singly positive/negative charged particles with diameters of 30, 60, and 90 nm is examined, and no obvious charge effect and sign preference are observed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).