Confinement-Induced Phase Transitions in Simple Liquids
Abstract
The liquid-to-solid transition of a simple model liquid confined between two surfaces was studied as a function of surface separation. From large surface separations (more than 1000 angstroms) down to a separation corresponding to seven molecular layers, the confined films displayed a liquid-like shear viscosity. When the surface separation was further decreased by a single molecular spacing, the films underwent an abrupt, reversible transition to a solid. At the transition, the rigidity of the confined films (quantified in terms of an "effective viscosity") increased reversibly by at least seven orders of magnitude.
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Non-associating liquids, including organic solvents and oils, become solid-like with a viscosity that diverges when confined between two surfaces as they slide past each other across films just a few monolayers thick.
“Non-associating liquids, including organic solvents and oils, are known to become solid-like, with a viscosity which diverges, when confined between two surfaces as they slide past each other across films that are just a few monolayers thick [39, 40].”
From Hydration lubrication (2013) · cites this paper as [40]
For organic liquids or oils, when confined to molecularly-thin layers (in the range 5-10 molecular diameters or less) such liquids become solid-like, and their effective viscosity diverges.
“For the case of organic liquids or oils, it has been realized for some time that when confined to molecularly-thin layers (in the range 5 -10 molecular diameters or less) such liquids become solid-like, and their effective viscosity diverges [39, 40, 52].”
From Hydration lubrication (2013) · cites this paper as [40]
Cites
Dynamic Properties of Molecularly Thin Liquid Films
Israelachvili, J. N., McGuiggan, P. M., & Homola, A. M. (1988) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.240.4849.189 · Cited by 664 · see citing works
Reduction of frictional forces between solid surfaces bearing polymer brushes
Klein, J., Kumacheva, E., Mahalu, D., Perahia, D., & Fetters, L. J. (1994) · Nature · doi:10.1038/370634a0 · Cited by 615 · see citing works
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Klein, J. (2013) · Friction · doi:10.1007/s40544-013-0001-7 · Cited by 567 · see citing works
Self-citationKlein, J., & Kumacheva, E. (1998) · The Journal of Chemical Physics · doi:10.1063/1.476114 · Cited by 496 · see citing works
Self-citationCui, S. T., Cummings, P. T., & Cochran, H. D. (2001) · The Journal of Chemical Physics · doi:10.1063/1.1359736 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Normal and Frictional Forces between Surfaces Bearing Polyelectrolyte Brushes
Raviv, U., Giasson, S., Kampf, N., Gohy, J.-F., Jérôme, R., & Klein, J. (2008) · Langmuir · doi:10.1021/la7039724 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Klein, J., & Kumacheva, E.
- Affiliations
- Weizmann Institute of Science (IL)
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1995-08-11
- Volume
- 269
- Issue
- 5225
- Pages
- 816-819
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2014659315
- Cited by
- 608
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 18.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Material Dynamics and Properties
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
- Keywords
- simple liquids, solidification, surface separation, shear viscosity, effective viscosity, rigidity, molecular layer, reversible phase transition
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