Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Colloidal particles at fluid interfaces stabilize drops and bubbles, yet their effect on mass transfer remains ambiguous, with experiments showing either strong hindrance or minimal effect, even at near-complete surface coverage. We resolve this ambiguity by modeling transient diffusion with the Fick-Jacobs equation, revealing that particle layers hinder diffusion only at short times due to reduced cross-sectional area. Our model provides a simple criterion for predicting hindered diffusion and captures prior experimental findings into a regime map, offering a unifying framework for diffusion in particle-stabilized multiphase systems.
Source: Physical Review Fluids
DOI: 10.1103/t3rj-4phw
Authors: T. J. J. M. van Overveld, V. Garbin
Institution: Delft University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4416075840