Effect of nanotextured array of conical features on explosive boiling over a flat substrate: A nonequilibrium molecular dynamics study

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the effects of size of nanocone array and types of wall material, i.e., aluminum and silver, on the explosive boiling of ultra-thin liquid argon film on nanostructure. An Embedded Atom Method (EAM) potential is used in describing the interatomic interaction between metal atoms. The results showed that the cone-like nanostructures drastically enhance heat transfer from solid to liquid and they have significant effects on temperature and pressure histories, net evaporation number, as well as the density distribution in the system. In all cases studied, the liquid molecules above the solid surface go into explosive boiling and a cluster of liquid is observed to move upward. It was also observed that the separation temperature associated with separation of liquid film from solid surface strongly depends on size of nanostructure while it is not sensitive to the type of materials. Furthermore, in all cases in a specific time after beginning of boiling, the evaporation on the hot wall stopped and a non-evaporating layer will form on the surface.