Deposition of nanoparticles from a volatile carrier liquid

Hypothesis: Traversing length scales in a volatile suspension alters the various contributions to particle deposition from conjoining and disjoining surface forces and from convective and liquid evaporative effects, which is apparent in the deposit morphology. Experiment: We investigate the particulate structures to result from the self-assembly of nanoparticles following the evaporation of a volatile carrier liquid from the level of the single particle and up to a level which is apparent to the naked eye, while quantifying the contributions of the main mechanisms that are involved in the deposition process. Findings: We show that from the level of the nanoparticles in our experiment and up to a length scale of approximately 10 mu m, the morphology of the deposit is particularly sensitive to particle adhesion to the substrate and to liquid evaporation. At greater length scales, the morphology of the deposit is well correlated with the finite volume of particles and with particle convection effects. The particulate structures are in the form of detached particles and particle islands, stripes, and continuous coating, which may vary at different length scales of the same deposit. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.