Influence of adsorbed gas at liquid/solid interfaces on heterogeneous cavitation

The presence of dissolved gas at the solid/liquid interface can play a crucial role in heterogeneous cavitation. Here we focus our attention on the relationship between gas conditions and cavitation nucleation at planar solid surfaces with alternating hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy and optical microscopy were used to monitor the gas adsorption on the patterns before sonication. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the effects of collapsing cavitation bubbles on the irradiated surfaces. High intensity ultrasonic irradiation (20 kHz) induces the formation of an interfacial gas layer at the solid surface immersed in different liquid media (water saturated with different gases, such as argon, nitrogen or carbon dioxide) by accelerating the adsorption of dissolved gas. Subsequently, the gas rearranges in diverse nano- or microstructures which take further part in the cavitation process. A solvent-exchange method was also applied to induce the formation of artificial gaseous domains accumulated at the solid surface in order to facilitate the cavitation process. By varying the gas adsorption time it is possible to accelerate or to slow down heterogeneous cavitation. The experimental findings on heterogeneous cavitation are discussed in terms of interfacial bubble nucleation and bubble attraction and growth on patterned solid surfaces in liquid media.