Finite-Size and Solvent Dependent Line Tension Effects for Nanoparticles at the Air-Liquid Surface.

The line tension for a nanoparticle (NP) at the air-liquid surface can be determined by examining the variation in NP solution surface tension with bulk NP concentration. In this publication the variation in line tension with liquid solvent is examined for the homologous series of liquids from n-decane through to n-octadecane. Finite-size line tension effects are also studied by examining the variation in line tension with NP size for NPs at the air-octadecane surface. Both the line tension variation with solvent and NP size can be qualitatively explained using an interface displacement model for the line tension.