Time: 10:15-11:00

Place: D4-132

Title: Thermodynamics of Systems with Fluid Interfaces

Host: Prof. Dag Breby, Xray group, Department of Physics, NTNU.

Abstract:  Many natural phenomena and evolving technologies involve single- or multi-component liquids with fluid interfaces, either surrounded by another fluid phase (drops or bubbles) or in contact with a smooth, rough, or porous solid (sessile drops or capillary menisci). Gibbsian thermodynamics has been used to understand fluid interface behaviour for more than 140 years; however, the treatments are often developed for only the least complicated of systems (such as single-component systems or ideal geometries). My research group has worked on developing thermodynamic descriptions of more complicated systems with multiple phases, multiple components, or sophisticated geometries in order to provide theoretical descriptions of important equilibrium phenomena such as phase change in nanopores. In addition, we are interested in combining fluid interface physics with bulk phase fluid mechanics to understand complex non-equilibrium phenomena such as low-pressure evaporation.

This research has been funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. J. A. W. Elliott holds a Canada Research Chair in Thermodynamics.