Heterogeneous nucleation is the most effective mechanism for the inception of phase transformation. Solid walls and impurities act as a catalyst for the formation of a new thermodynamic phase by reducing the activation energy required for a phase change, hence enhancing nucleation. The formation of vapour bubbles close to solid, ideally flat, walls is addressed here by exploiting a mesoscale description that couples diffuse interface modelling of the two-phase vapour–liquid system with fluctuating hydrodynamics, extending previous work by the authors on homogeneous nucleation. The technical focus of this work is to directly account for hydrophobic or hydrophilic walls through appropriate boundary conditions compliant with the fluctuation–dissipation balance, a crucial point in the context of fluctuating hydrodynamics theory. This methodology provides access to the complete dynamics of the nucleation process, from the inception of multiple bubbles up to their long-time macroscopic expansion, on time and spatial scales unaffordable by standard techniques for nucleation, such as molecular dynamics. The analysis mainly focuses on the effect of wall wettability on the nucleation rate, and, albeit qualitatively in agreement with classical nucleation theory predictions, it reveals several discrepancies to be ascribed to layering effects in the liquid close to the boundary and to bubble–bubble interactions. In particular, it is found that, close to moderately hydrophilic surfaces, the most probable nucleation events occur away from the wall through a homogeneous mechanism.

In this work, we present a dynamical theory of boiling based on fluctuating hydrodynamics and the diffuse interface approach. The model is able to describe boiling from the stochastic nucleation up to the macroscopic bubble dynamics. It covers, with a modest computational cost, the mesoscale area from nano to micrometers, where most of the controversial observations related to the phenomenon originate. In particular, the role of wettability in the macroscopic observables of boiling is elucidated. In addition, by comparing the ideal case of boiling on ultra-smooth surfaces with a chemically heterogeneous wall, our results will definitively shed light on the puzzling low onset temperatures measured in experiments. Sporadic nanometric spots of hydrophobic wettability will be shown to be enough to trigger the nucleation at low superheat, significantly reducing the temperature of boiling onset, in line with experimental results. The proposed mesoscale approach constitutes the missing link between macroscopic approaches and molecular dynamics simulations and will open a breakthrough pathway toward accurate understanding and prediction.

The collapse of a nano-bubble near a solid wall is addressed here exploiting a phase field model recently used to describe the process in free space. Bubble collapse is triggered by a normal shock wave in the liquid. The dynamics is explored for different bubble wall normal distances and triggering shock intensities. Overall the dynamics is characterized by a sequence of collapses and rebounds of the pure vapor bubble accompanied by the emission of shock waves in the liquid. The shocks are reflected by the wall to impinge back on the re-expanding bubble. The presence of the wall and the impinging shock wave break the symmetry of the system, leading, for sufficiently strong intensity of the incoming shock wave, to the poration of the bubble and the formation of an annular structure and a liquid jet. Intense peaks of pressure and temperatures are found also at the wall, confirming that the strong localized loading combined with the jet impinging the wall is a potential source of substrate damage induced by the cavitation

The acoustic signature of bubbles confined in water enclosures is precisely detected. Bubbles resonant frequency and damping are thus characterised as function of the enclosures volume.

In the present work, a diffuse interface model has been used to numerically investigate the laser-induced cavitation of nano-/micro-bubbles. The mesoscale approach is able to describe the cavitation process in its entirety, starting from the vapor bubble formation due to the focused laser energy deposition up to its macroscopic motion. In particular, the simulations show a complete and detailed description of the bubble formation and the subsequent breakdown wave emission with a precise estimation of the energy partition between the shock wave radiating in the liquid and the internal energy of the bubble. The scaling of the ratio between the energy stored in the bubble at its maximum radius and the one deposited by the laser is found in agreement with experimental observation on macroscopic bubbles.