Electrodeposition at polarisable liquid|liquid interfaces: The role of interfacial tension on nucleation kinetics

Abstract

The influence of surfactants on nucleation at liquid|liquid interfaces was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The surface activity of a nanoparticle was considered within classical thermodynamics. These considerations indicated that while large particles preferentially reside in the interfacial region, small particles are not surface active. This results in a second critical radius in nucleation experiments. The experiments where the interfacial tension was changed by addition of a surfactant were in line with theoretical predictions.