Phase transitions in nanoconfined fluids: Synergistic coupling between soft and hard matter
Abstract
We report recent theoretical developments in the study of gas-liquid transitions of fluids confined to deformable mesoporous materials. Due to a synergistic coupling the phase behavior of the confined soft matter phase is significantly affected by the deformation of the confining material which in turn is deformed as a result of phase changes occurring in the confined phase. If the confined fluid is gas-like its wetting characteristics affect the strain isotherm such that the