Direct measurement of the capillary condensation time of a water nanobridge

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 14;8(1):13848. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32021-0.

Abstract

Water menisci wet all sorts of cavities, produce among the most intense forces at the nanoscale and play a role in many physical and chemical processes. The physical properties of these menisci are therefore relevant to understand a multitude of phenomena at the nanoscale where these are involved. Here, using a force feedback microscope, we directly measured the capillary condensation time of a water meniscus, by approaching two surfaces at different speeds and monitoring the relative position of the surfaces at the instant the meniscus is formed.