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

The influence of surfactants on nucleation at liquid|liquid interfaces was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The surface activity of 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 second critical radius in nucleation experiments. The experiments where the interfacial tension was changed by addition of surfactant were in line with theoretical predictions.