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  • Open Access

Nanodroplet condensation on solid surfaces

Matteo Teodori, Dario Abbondanza, Mirko Gallo*, and Carlo Massimo Casciola

  • *Contact author: mirko.gallo@uniroma1.it
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043310 – Published 17 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/78cd-jzvz

Abstract

This work addresses droplet condensation on surfaces spanning hydrophobic to hydrophilic wettabilities. A stochastic mesoscale model based on the theory of fluctuating hydrodynamics and the thermodynamics of a diffuse interface approach shows how direct simulation of the vapor-liquid transition from the nucleation process to droplet hydrodynamics can be achieved. Such simulations explain the role of wettability in filmwise and dropwise condensation regimes and the main limitations of classical nucleation theory.

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043310– Published 17 December, 2025
  • Received 14 June 2025
  • Accepted 31 October 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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