Slip flow in graphene nanochannels

Interlink between Abnormal Water Imbibition in Hydrophilic and Rapid Flow in Hydrophobic Nanochannels

Nanoscale extension and refinement of the Lucas-Washburn model is presented with a detailed analysis of recent experimental data and extensive molecular dynamics simulations to investigate rapid water flow and water imbibition within nanocapillaries. Through a comparative analysis of capillary rise in hydrophilic nanochannels, an unexpected reversal of the anticipated trend, with an abnormal peak, of imbibition length below the size of 3 nm was discovered in hydrophilic nanochannels, surprisingly sharing the same physical origin as the well-known peak observed in flow rate within hydrophobic nanochannels. The extended imbibition model is applicable across diverse spatiotemporal scales and validated against simulation results and existing experimental data for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanochannels.

Molecular Alignment-Mediated Stick-Slip Poiseuille Flow of Oil in Graphene Nanochannels

The flow behavior of oil in nanochannels has attracted extensive attention for oil transport applications. In most, if not all, of the prior theoretical simulations, oil molecules were observed to flow steadily in nanochannels under pressure gradients. In this study, non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to simulate the Poiseuille flow of oil with three different hydrocarbon chain lengths in graphene nanochannels. Contrary to the conventional perception of steady flows of oil in nanochannels, we find that oil molecules with the longest hydrocarbon chain (i.e., n-dodecane) exhibit notable stick-slip flow behavior. An alternation between the high average velocity of n-dodecane in the slip motion and the low average velocity in the stick motion is observed, with a drastic, abrupt velocity jolt of up to 40 times occurring at the transition in a stick-slip motion. Further statistical analyses show that the stick-slip flow behavior of n-dodecane molecules originates from the molecular alignment change of oil near the graphene wall. The molecular alignment of n-dodecane shows different statistical distributions under stick and slip motion states, leading to significant changes of friction forces and thus notable velocity fluctuations. This work provides new insights into the Poiseuille flow behavior of oil in graphene nanochannels and may offer useful guidelines for other mass transport applications.

Accurate estimation of dynamical quantities for nonequilibrium nanoscale systems

Fluctuations of dynamical quantities are fundamental and inevitable. For the booming research in nanotechnology, huge relative fluctuation comes with the reduction of system size, leading to large uncertainty for the estimates of dynamical quantities. Thus, increasing statistical efficiency, i.e., reducing the number of samples required to achieve a given accuracy, is of great significance for accurate estimation. Here we propose a theory as a fundamental solution for such problem by constructing auxiliary path for each real path. The states on auxiliary paths constitute canonical ensemble and share the same macroscopic properties (NVT) with the initial states of the real path. By implementing the theory in molecular dynamics simulations, we obtain a nanoscale Couette flow field with an accuracy of 0.2μm/s with relative standard error <0.1. The required number of samples is reduced by 12 orders compared to conventional method. The predicted thermolubric behavior of water sliding on a self-assembled surface is directly validated by experiment under the same velocity. This theory only assumes the system is initially in thermal equilibrium, then driven from that equilibrium by an external perturbation. It could serve as a general approach for extracting the accurate estimate of dynamical quantities from large fluctuations to provide insights on atomic level under experimental conditions, and benefit the studies on mass transport through (biological) nanochannels and fluid film lubrication of nanometer thickness.

Insights from molecular simulations on liquid slip over nanostructured surfaces

The current study focuses on non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations to investigate the slip properties of water flowing over different nanostructured surfaces. A simulation protocol is developed that applies constant shear stress throughout the fluid before measuring the slip length. Using pseudo-data, the reliability of this protocol in terms of both accuracy and noise of the results for high-slip and multiphase systems is demonstrated. In contrast to the NEMD techniques available in the literature, the protocol also enables a convenient way to compare the slip lengths of different surface coatings. The fluid slip lengths of surface coatings comprising carbon nanotubes on platinum are predicted using the proposed protocol with nitrogen gas trapped in the interstitial gaps. The role of these gas pockets in determining surface slip properties is investigated. The NEMD results from the proposed model compare well with a macroscopic theoretical model for nano-patterned surfaces. Finally, it is concluded that entrapped gas within nanostructures may offer significant drag reduction only if the gas surface coverage is above 95%.

Impact of complex boundary on the hydrodynamic properties of methane nanofluidic flow via non-equilibrium multiscale molecular dynamics simulation

Understanding the impact of complex boundary on the hydrodynamic properties of methane nanofluidic is significant for production optimization and design of energy-saving emission reduction devices. In the molecule scale, however, the microscopic mechanisms of the influence of the complex boundary on the hydrodynamic characteristics are still not well understood. In this study, a mixture boundary Poiseuille flow model is proposed to study the hydrodynamic properties and explore the molecular mechanisms of confined methane nanofluidic using the Non-equilibrium multiscale molecular dynamics simulation (NEMSMD). In order to investigate the influences of nonslip and rough boundary on hydrodynamic behavior of nanofluidic by the present model in one simulation, the coordinate transformation methods regarding the local symmetry is showed. Simulation results show that the atom number density, velocity and temperature profiles present significant differences near the nonslip boundary and rough wall surface. Moreover, the slip length of methane nanofluidic near the rough boundary decreases with the increasing of the temperature. Furthermore, the viscosity values are calculated by parabolic fit of the local velocity data based on the present model, which demonstrates that the impact of the nonslip boundary on the shear viscosity compared with the experiment result is less than one obtained using the rough boundary. In addition, the local contours of rotational and translational energy are plotted, which show that the rotational and translational energies of nonslip boundary are obvious higher than those of rough boundary. These numerical results are very significant in understanding the impact of complex boundary conditions on hydrodynamic properties in nanofluidic theory and the design of nano-devices.

Viscous peeling of a nanosheet

Combining molecular dynamics (MD) and continuum simulations, we study the dynamics of propagation of a peeling front in a system composed of multilayered graphene nanosheets completely immersed in water. Peeling is induced by lifting one of the nanosheet edges with an assigned pulling velocity normal to the flat substrate. Using MD, we compute the pulling force as a function of the pulling velocity, and quantify the viscous resistance to the advancement of the peeling front. We compare the MD results to a 1D continuum model of a sheet loaded with modelled hydrodynamic loads. Our results show that the viscous dependence of the force on the velocity is negligible below a threshold velocity. Above this threshold, the hydrodynamics is mainly controlled by the viscous resistance associated to the flow near the crack opening, while lubrication forces are negligible owing to the large hydrodynamic slip at the liquid-solid boundary. Two dissipative mechanisms are identified: a drag resistance to the upward motion of the edge, and a resistance to the gap opening associated to the curvature of the flow streamlines near the entrance. Surprisingly, the shape of the sheet was found to be approximately independent of the pulling velocity even for the largest velocities considered.

Direct matching between the flow factor approach model and molecular dynamics simulation for nanochannel flows

Mathematically formulating nanochannel flows is challenging. Here, the values of the characteristic parameters were extracted from molecular dynamics simulation (MDS), and directly input to the closed-form explicit flow factor approach model (FFAM) for nanochannel flows. By this way, the physical nature of the simulated system in FFAM is the same with that in MDS. Two nano slit channel heights respectively with two different liquid-channel wall interactions were addressed. The flow velocity profiles across the channel height respectively calculated from MDS and FFAM were compared. By introducing the equivalent value \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${{\Delta_{im} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Delta_{im} } D}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} D}$$\end{document}Δim/D, FFAM fairly agrees with MDS for all the cases. The study values FFAM in simulating nanochannel flows.

Hydrodynamic slip of alkali chloride solutions in uncharged graphene nanochannels

Using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate the effect of concentration and alkali cation types (K⁺, Na⁺, and Li⁺) on the hydrodynamic slip of aqueous alkali chloride solutions in an uncharged graphene nanochannel. We modeled the graphene-electrolyte interactions using the potential of Williams et al. [J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 8, 703 (2017)], which uses optimized graphene-ion Lennard-Jones interaction parameters to effectively account for surface and solvent polarizability effects on the adsorption of ions in an aqueous solution to a graphene surface. In our study, the hydrodynamic slip exhibits a decreasing trend for alkali chloride solutions with increasing salt concentration. The NaCl solution shows the highest reduction in the slip length followed by KCl and LiCl solutions, and the reduction in the slip length is very much dependent on the salt type. We also compared the slip length with that calculated using a standard unoptimized interatomic potential obtained from the Lorentz-Berthelot mixing rule for the ion-carbon interactions, which is not adjusted to account for the surface and solvent polarizability at the graphene surface. In contrast to the optimized model, the slip length of alkali chloride solutions in the unoptimized model shows only a nominal change with salt concentration and is also independent of the nature of salts. Our study shows that adoption of the computationally inexpensive optimized potential of Williams et al. for the graphene-ion interactions has a significant influence on the calculation of slip lengths for electrolyte solutions in graphene-based nanofluidic devices.

Modulating Water Slip Using Atomic-Scale Defects: Friction on Realistic Hexagonal Boron Nitride Surfaces

Atomic-scale defects are ubiquitous in nanomaterials, yet their role in modulating fluid flow is inadequately understood. Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is an important two-dimensional material with applications in desalination and osmotic power. Although pristine hBN offers higher friction to the flow of water than graphene, we show here that certain defects can enhance water slippage on hBN. Using classical molecular dynamics simulations assisted by quantum-mechanical density functional theory, we compute the friction coefficient of water on hBN containing various vacancies (B, N, BN, B₂N, and B₃N) and the Stone-Wales defect. By investigating two defect concentrations, we obtain friction coefficients ranging from 0.4 to 2.6 times that of pristine hBN, leading to a maximum water slip length of 18.1 nm on hBN with a N vacancy or a Stone-Wales defect. Our work informs the use of defects to tune water flow and reveals defective hBN as an alternative high-slip surface to graphene.

Nanoscale slip length prediction with machine learning tools

This work incorporates machine learning (ML) techniques, such as multivariate regression, the multi-layer perceptron, and random forest to predict the slip length at the nanoscale. Data points are collected both from our simulation data and data from the literature, and comprise Molecular Dynamics simulations of simple monoatomic, polar, and molecular liquids. Training and test points cover a wide range of input parameters which have been found to affect the slip length value, concerning dynamical and geometrical characteristics of the model, along with simulation parameters that constitute the simulation conditions. The aim of this work is to suggest an accurate and efficient procedure capable of reproducing physical properties, such as the slip length, acting parallel to simulation methods. Non-linear models, based on neural networks and decision trees, have been found to achieve better performance compared to linear regression methods. After the model is trained on representative simulation data, it is capable of accurately predicting the slip length values in regions between or in close proximity to the input data range, at the nanoscale. Results also reveal that, as channel dimensions increase, the slip length turns into a size-independent material property, affected mainly by wall roughness and wettability.

Extending the Classical Continuum Theory to Describe Water Flow through Two-Dimensional Nanopores

Water flow through two-dimensional nanopores has attracted significant attention owing to the promising water purification technology based on atomically thick membranes. However, the theoretical description of water flow in nanopores based on the classical continuum theory is very challenging owing to the pronounced entrance/exit effects. Here, we extend the classical Hagen-Poiseuille equation for describing the relationship between flow rate and pressure loss in laminar tube flow to two-dimensional nanopores. A totally theoretical model is established by appropriately considering the velocity slip on pore surfaces both in the friction pressure loss and entrance/exit pressure loss. Based on molecular dynamics simulations of water flow through graphene nanopores, it is shown that the model can not only well predict the overall flow rate but also give a good estimation of the velocity profiles. As the pore radius and length increase, the model can reduce to the equations applicable to the fluid flow in infinitely/finitely long nanotubes, thin orifices, and macroscale tubes, showing an accurate prediction of the existing experimental and simulation data of the water flow through nanotubes and nanopores in the literature. Namely, the presented model is a unified model that can uniformly describe the fluid flow from nanoscales to macroscales by modifying the classical continuum theory.

First law of thermodynamics on the boundary for flow through a carbon nanotube

The definition of boundary at the nanoscale has been a matter of dispute for years. Addressing this issue, the nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations in this work investigate the flow characteristics of a simple liquid in a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), and equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations support the range of the NEMD results. The inconsistencies in defining the flow boundary at the nanoscale are understood through the first law of thermodynamics: Local thermodynamic properties (the effects of the density distribution, pressure, viscosity, and temperature) define the boundary. We have selected different boundary positions in the CNT to demonstrate the probability of density distribution that also indicates the coexistence of multiple thermodynamic states. Altering the interaction parameters, we produce convergence between the NEMD result and the no-slip Hagen-Poiseuille assumptions. Meanwhile, the results indicate that the boundary position varies between the innermost solid wall and peak density position of the CNT as a function of the input energy or work done in the system. Finally, we reveal that the ratio between the potential energy barrier and the kinetic energy is proportional to the shift of the boundary position away from the innermost solid wall.

Transport behavior of pressure-driven electrolyte solution through a surface-charged nanochannel

The transport behavior of a pressure-driven electrolyte solution through a surface-charged nanochannel is investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Similar to pure water, the relationship between the applied pressure (P) and the average transport velocity ([Formula: see text]) of the electrolyte solution is roughly linear, which matches with the theoretical solution very well. The friction coefficient λ is used to describe the transport behavior (a higher λ leads to a lower [Formula: see text]), which scales with the slope of the P- [Formula: see text] relationship and increases with the increases of both the charge density of the channel wall σ and the electrolyte concentration n. The physical mechanism is found as follows: the solid-liquid interaction energy between the channel wall and the liquid inside the channel decreases with both σ and n (being more negative), which makes it more difficult for the liquid boundary layer to slide against the channel wall, leading to a higher λ. In addition, the increase of σ also causes a significant decrease of the liquid-liquid interaction energy but the opposite effect is found with the increase of n. However, λ increases with the increase of both σ and n, suggesting that the relationship between λ and the liquid-liquid interaction energy is more complicated for an electrolyte solution, different from the corresponding result of pure water.

Prediction of Kapitza resistance at fluid-solid interfaces

Understanding the interfacial heat transfer and thermal resistance at an interface between two dissimilar materials is of great importance in the development of nanoscale systems. This paper introduces a new and reliable linear response method for calculating the interfacial thermal resistance or Kapitza resistance in fluid-solid interfaces with the use of equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulations. The theoretical predictions are validated against classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD simulations are carried out in a Lennard-Jones (L-J) system with fluid confined between two solid slabs. Different types of interfaces are tested by varying the fluid-solid interactions (wetting coefficient) at the interface. It is observed that the Kapitza length decreases monotonically with an increasing wetting coefficient as expected. The theory is further validated by simulating under different conditions such as channel width, density, and temperature. Our method allows us to directly determine the Kapitza length from EMD simulations by considering the temperature fluctuation and heat flux fluctuations at the interface. The predicted Kapitza length shows an excellent agreement with the results obtained from both EMD and non-equilibrium MD simulations.

Large effect of lateral box size in molecular dynamics simulations of liquid-solid friction

Molecular dynamics simulations are a powerful tool to characterize liquid-solid friction. A slab configuration with periodic boundary conditions in the lateral dimensions is commonly used, where the measured friction coefficient could be affected by the finite lateral size of the simulation box. Here we show that for a very wetting liquid close to its melting temperature, strong finite size effects can persist up to large box sizes along the flow direction, typically ∼30 particle diameters. We relate the observed decrease of friction in small boxes to changes in the structure of the first adsorbed layer, which becomes less commensurable with the wall structure. Although these effects disappear for lower wetting cases or at higher temperatures, we suggest that the possible effect of the finite lateral box size on the friction coefficient should not be automatically set aside when exploring unknown systems.

Monte Carlo Simulations of Framework Defects in Layered Two-Dimensional Nanomaterial Desalination Membranes: Implications for Permeability and Selectivity

Two-dimensional nanomaterial (2-D NM) frameworks, especially those comprising graphene oxide, have received extensive research interest for membrane-based separation processes and desalination. However, the impact of horizontal defects in 2-D NM frameworks, which stem from nonuniform deposition of 2-D NM flakes during layer build-up, has been almost entirely overlooked. In this work, we apply Monte Carlo simulations, under idealized conditions wherein the vertical interlayer spacing allows for water permeation while perfectly excluding salt, on both the formation of the laminate structure and molecular transport through the laminate. Our simulations show that 2-D NM frameworks are extremely tortuous (tortuosity ≈10³), with water permeability decreasing from 20 to <1 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1 as thickness increased from 8 to 167 nm. Additionally, we find that framework defects allow salt to percolate through the framework, hindering water-salt selectivity. 2-D NM frameworks with a packing density of 75%, representative of most 2-D NM membranes, are projected to achieve <92% NaCl rejection at a water permeability of <1 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1, even with ideal interlayer spacing. A high packing density of 90%, which to our knowledge has yet to be achieved, could yield comparable performance to current desalination membranes. Maximizing packing density is therefore a critical technical challenge, in addition to the already daunting challenge of optimizing interlayer spacing, for the development of 2-D NM membranes.

Discrete hydrodynamics near solid planar walls

We derive, with the projection operator technique, the equations of motion for the time-dependent average of the discrete mass and momentum densities of a fluid confined by planar walls under the assumption that the flow field is translationally invariant along the directions tangent to the walls. Shear flow and sound propagation perpendicular to the walls can be described with the discrete hydrodynamic equations. The interaction with the walls is not given through boundary conditions but rather in terms of impenetrability and friction forces appearing in the discrete hydrodynamic equations. Microscopic expressions for the transport coefficients entering the discrete equations are provided. We further show that the obtained discrete equations can be interpreted as a Petrov-Galerkin finite-element discretization of the continuum equations presented by Camargo et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 148, 064107 (2018)JCPSA60021-960610.1063/1.5010401] when restricted to planar geometries and flows.

Transport mechanism of water molecules passing through polyamide/COF mixed matrix membranes

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have gained significant attention due to their high water permeability without the cost of salt rejection. The mechanism of permeability promotion for PA/COFs MMMs is investigated in this work from molecular insights.

VP, Sathian SP. Water flow in carbon nanotubes: the role of tube chirality

Flow rate of water in CNTs of different types.

Prediction of fluid slip in cylindrical nanopores using equilibrium molecular simulations

We introduce an analytical method to predict the slip length (L _s) in cylindrical nanopores using equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulations, following the approach proposed by Sokhan and Quirke for planar channels [39]. Using this approach, we determined the slip length of water in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of various diameters. The slip length predicted from our method shows excellent agreement with the results obtained from nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations. The data show a monotonically decreasing slip length with an increasing nanotube diameter. The proposed EMD method can be used to precisely estimate slip length in high slip cylindrical systems, whereas, L _s calculated from NEMD is highly sensitive to the velocity profile and may cause large statistical errors due to large velocity slip at the channel surface. We also demonstrated the validity of the EMD method in a BNNT-water system, where the slip length is very small compared to that in a CNT pore of similar diameter. The developed method enables us to calculate the interfacial friction coefficient directly from EMD simulations, while friction can be estimated using NEMD by performing simulations at various external driving forces, thereby increasing the overall computational time. The EMD analysis revealed a curvature dependence in the friction coefficient, which induces the slip length dependency on the tube diameter. Conversely, in flat graphene nanopores, both L _s and friction coefficient show no strong dependency on the channel width.

Challenges in Nanofluidics—Beyond Navier–Stokes at the Molecular Scale

The fluid dynamics of macroscopic and microscopic systems is well developed and has been extensively validated. Its extraordinary success makes it tempting to apply Navier–Stokes fluid dynamics without modification to systems of ever decreasing dimensions as studies of nanofluidics become more prevalent. However, this can result in serious error. In this paper, we discuss several ways in which nanoconfined fluid flow differs from macroscopic flow. We give particular attention to several topics that have recently received attention in the literature: slip, spin angular momentum coupling, nonlocal stress response and density inhomogeneity. In principle, all of these effects can now be accurately modelled using validated theories. Although the basic principles are now fairly well understood, much work remains to be done in their application.

Water flow in carbon nanotubes: The effect of tube flexibility and thermostat

Although the importance of temperature control in nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations is widely accepted, the consequences of the thermostatting approach in the case of strongly confined fluids are underappreciated. We show the strong influence of the thermostatting method on the water transport in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by considering simulations in which the system temperature is controlled via the walls or via the fluid. Streaming velocities and mass flow rates are found to depend on the tube flexibility and on the thermostatting algorithm, with flow rates up to 20% larger when the walls are flexible. The larger flow rates in flexible CNTs are explained by a lower friction coefficient between water and the wall. Despite the lower friction, a larger solid-fluid interaction energy is found for flexible CNTs than for rigid ones. Furthermore, a comparison of thermostat schemes has shown that the Berendsen and Nosé-Hoover thermostats result in very similar transport rates, while lower flow rates are found under the influence of the Langevin thermostat. These findings illustrate the significant influence of the thermostatting methods on the simulated confined fluid transport.

Electrokinetic Energy Conversion in Self-Assembled 2D Nanofluidic Channels with Janus Nanobuilding Blocks

Inspired by the microstructure of nacre, material design, and large-scale integration of artificial nanofluidic devices step into a completely new stage, termed 2D nanofluidics, in which mass and charge transportation are confined in the interstitial space between reconstructed 2D nanomaterials. However, all the existing 2D nanofluidic systems are reconstituted from homogeneous nanobuilding blocks. Herein, this paper reports the bottom-up construction of 2D nanofluidic materials with kaolinite-based Janus nanobuilding blocks, and demonstrates two types of electrokinetic energy conversion through the network of 2D nanochannels. Being different from previous 2D nanofluidic systems, two distinct types of sub-nanometer- and nanometer-wide fluidic channels of about 6.8 and 13.8 Å are identified in the reconstructed kaolinite membranes (RKM), showing prominent surface-governed ion transport behaviors and nearly perfect cation-selectivity. The RKMs exhibit superior capability in osmotic and hydraulic energy conversion, compared to graphene-based membranes. The mineral-based 2D nanofluidic system opens up a new avenue to self-assemble asymmetric 2D nanomaterials for energy, environmental, and healthcare applications.

A Novel Fabrication of 3.6 nm High Graphene Nanochannels for Ultrafast Ion Transport

In an experiment based on electroosmotic ion transport, 3.6 nm high graphene nanochannels with a clean, smooth and hydrophobic surface and large slip length have 115 times greater ionic conductivity than SiO₂ nanochannels.

Strain-induced friction anisotropy between graphene and molecular liquids

In this paper, we study the friction behavior of molecular liquids with anisotropically strained graphene. Due to the changes of lattice and the potential energy surface, the friction is orientation dependent and can be computed by tensorial Green-Kubo formula. Simple quantitative estimations are also proposed for the zero-time response and agree reasonably well with the molecular dynamics results. From simulations, we can obtain the information of structures, dynamics of the system, and study the influence of strain and molecular shapes on the anisotropy degree. It is found that unilateral strain can increase friction in all directions but the strain direction is privileged. Numerical evidences also show that nonspherical molecules are more sensitive to strain and give rise to more pronounced anisotropy effects.

Nanofluidics in two-dimensional layered materials: inspirations from nature

This review highlights the recent progress, current challenges, and future perspectives in the design and application of 2D layered materials for nanofluidic research, with emphasis on the thought of bio-inspiration.

Slip divergence of water flow in graphene nanochannels: the role of chirality

Graphene has attracted considerable attention due to its characteristics as a 2D material and its fascinating properties, providing a potential building block for fabrication of nanofluidic conduits.

A new model for fluid velocity slip on a solid surface

A general adsorption model is developed to describe the interactions between near-wall fluid molecules and solid surfaces. This model serves as a framework for the theoretical modelling of boundary slip phenomena. Based on this adsorption model, a new general model for the slip velocity of fluids on solid surfaces is introduced. The slip boundary condition at a fluid-solid interface has hitherto been considered separately for gases and liquids. In this paper, we show that the slip velocity in both gases and liquids may originate from dynamical adsorption processes at the interface. A unified analytical model that is valid for both gas-solid and liquid-solid slip boundary conditions is proposed based on surface science theory. The corroboration with the experimental data extracted from the literature shows that the proposed model provides an improved prediction compared to existing analytical models for gases at higher shear rates and close agreement for liquid-solid interfaces in general.

Hydrodynamic slip in silicon nanochannels

Equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were performed to better understand the hydrodynamic behavior of water flowing through silicon nanochannels. The water-silicon interaction potential was calibrated by means of size-independent molecular dynamics simulations of silicon wettability. The wettability of silicon was found to be dependent on the strength of the water-silicon interaction and the structure of the underlying surface. As a result, the anisotropy was found to be an important factor in the wettability of these types of crystalline solids. Using this premise as a fundamental starting point, the hydrodynamic slip in nanoconfined water was characterized using both equilibrium and nonequilibrium calculations of the slip length under low shear rate operating conditions. As was the case for the wettability analysis, the hydrodynamic slip was found to be dependent on the wetted solid surface atomic structure. Additionally, the interfacial water liquid structure was the most significant parameter to describe the hydrodynamic boundary condition. The calibration of the water-silicon interaction potential performed by matching the experimental contact angle of silicon led to the verification of the no-slip condition, experimentally reported for silicon nanochannels at low shear rates.

Hydrodynamic slip length as a surface property

Equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were conducted in order to evaluate the hypothesis that the hydrodynamic slip length is a surface property. The system under investigation was water confined between two graphite layers to form nanochannels of different sizes (3-8 nm). The water-carbon interaction potential was calibrated by matching wettability experiments of graphitic-carbon surfaces free of airborne hydrocarbon contamination. Three equilibrium theories were used to calculate the hydrodynamic slip length. It was found that one of the recently reported equilibrium theories for the calculation of the slip length featured confinement effects, while the others resulted in calculations significantly hindered by the large margin of error observed between independent simulations. The hydrodynamic slip length was found to be channel-size independent using equilibrium calculations, i.e., suggesting a consistency with the definition of a surface property, for 5-nm channels and larger. The analysis of the individual trajectories of liquid particles revealed that the reason for observing confinement effects in 3-nm nanochannels is the high mobility of the bulk particles. Nonequilibrium calculations were not consistently affected by size but by noisiness in the smallest systems.

Fluid infiltration pressure for hydrophobic nanochannels

We investigate water infiltration pressure for hydrophobic nanochannels through molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that the entrance energy barrier significantly raises the infiltration pressure, which makes the classic Young-Laplace equation invalid for nanochannels. As the channel surface is tuned from superhydrophobic to hydrophobic, the infiltration pressure is greatly reduced mainly due to the decrease of the capillary pressure (Young-Laplace equation) caused by the contact angle change, while the contribution of the entrance energy barrier to the infiltration pressure, which is termed entrance barrier pressure, increases from 25% to 60%.

Flow and slip transition in nanochannels

We experimentally investigate the Poiseuille flows in nanochannels. It is found that the flow rate undergoes a transition between two linear regimes as the shear rate is varied. The transition indicates that the nonslip boundary condition is valid at low shear rate. When the shear rate is larger than a critical value, slip takes place and the slip length increases linearly with increasing shear rate before approaching a constant value. The results reported in this work can help advance the understanding of flow slip in nanochannels.