Wetting Hysteresis Effects in Vapor → Liquid → Solid Growth of Nanowires

Abstract

This paper presents models of the hysteresis effects occurring on the wetting perimeter of a liquid-metal catalyst drop due to the effects caused on the contact angles by the edge of the end (tip) face of a nanowires (NW) and the linear tension of the three-phase contact interface. The contact angle hysteresis of the catalyst liquid drop on the end of an NW grown by the vapor → liquid → solid (VLS) scheme is due to its indifferent equilibrium at the wetting perimeter. The conclusion is drawn that the contact angle hysteresis in the catalyst drop wetting the NW crystal surface has a dual, not strictly equilibrium nature.