Scientists invent a new approach to study the gas-liquid interface
According to the latest news, researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Surface Engineering carried out experiments in order to better understand the reactions between water and gases. At the end of the experiments, a new approach has been developed without surprises, and it has proven to be particularly effective.
The study was carried out on neon and dodecane particles. Indeed, the newly developed process is based on a molecular beam projection technology in the direction of a liquid surface. The diffusion of the jet is then analyzed by sensors to understand the behavior of gas molecules who are trapped there.
The scientists of the University of California at Berkeley greatly contributed to the research. In addition, thanks to the new processes developed, improvements could be applied in the industrial world.
The new approach reveals new concepts
The researchers first proceeded by measuring the molecular evaporation of a jet of dodecane mixed with neon. They discovered that the diffusion is done by an angular distribution. The velocity of the outgoing neon particles follows the Maxwell-Boltzmann principle at the temperature of the liquid, which suggests a stable expansion of neon.
Research has therefore focused on this gas in order to measure its distribution movements on the surface of liquid dodecane. Furthermore, in diffusion studies, the team noted the manifestation of impulsive diffusion (IS) and thermal desorption (TD). In TD, the molecules collide with the surface and completely equilibrate with the fluid and then desorb.
For the IS on the other hand, the characteristics of the energy and of the starting trajectory of the beam are partly maintained. The research was therefore inspired by this property to measure translational energy transfer from neon to liquid.
Applications already possible…
In the industrial field, the limit between gases and liquids governs the methods of mixing air and fuel within combustion engines. Therefore, the new flat projection scattering device opens up more modern approaches to research on integrations between gas and liquid.
Scientists will now be able to decipher the interactions of molecules on the surface of fluids with better perception. They are even considering using this approach to anticipate the onset of acid rain and particles involved in air pollution.
SOURCE: PHYS.ORG
