Bubble nucleation in confined liquids: Molecular dynamics study

We studied bubble nucleation dynamics for confined liquid in slit pores by using a molecular dynamics method. Three types of model solid pores are considered; strongly adsorbing pore, moderately adsorbing pore and weakly adsorbing pore. Behavior of bubble nucleation is markedly different in the three pores. In the weakly adsorbing wall, the liquid in wide pore cannot maintain metastable liquid state; vapor layers appear immediately on the walls. In the moderately adsorbing pore, bubble nucleation is promoted by the walls where the nucleation is heterogeneous. In the strongly adsorbing pore, bubbles are developed inside the liquid ; the nucleation is homogeneous. The obtained stability limits of the liquid are nearly the same.