Molecular dynamics study of sessile ionic nanodroplet under external electric field

Abstract

Abstract Effect of external electric field and surface temperature on the dynamics of a sessile ionic nanodroplet has been investigated using classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The study investigates the spreading, evaporation and deformation behavior of a salt-water nanodroplet on a solid Pt surface in the presence and absence of external electric field. Varying the intensity and direction of the external electric field, a series of MD simulations were carried out considering a moderate concentration of ionic solution to understand these phenomena at molecular level. In the presence of salt ions, effect of hydration becomes more dominant which resists the deformation of the nanodroplet. It was also found that vertical electric field leads to the formation of nanobridge/column like structures beyond some critical field intensities. In addition to the electro-evaporation, the present study probes the effect of surface temperature on the evaporation and spreading process of the sessile ionic nanodroplet.