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Spreading versus non-spreading of wetting films: enhancing aqueous phase invasion in disordered media via nanoparticle adsorption
Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
KTH, School of Engineering Sciences (SCI), Engineering Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7980-9691
Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; Spanish National Research Council (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Spain.
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2026 (English)In: Journal of Fluid Mechanics, ISSN 0022-1120, E-ISSN 1469-7645, Vol. 1030, article id R5Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Controlling multiphase flow in disordered media is central to diverse practical contexts. Although nanoparticles have been widely utilised to modify surface wettability, factors governing their effects on dynamic displacement patterns remain unclear. Here, we identify the criterion for nanoparticle-induced wettability alteration during displacement by combining interfacial-scale wetting models, pore-scale microfluidic experiments and simulations. Motivated by striking contrasts in static wettability, we find that nanoparticle adsorption on solid surfaces affects displacement interfaces only when spreading of wetting films is pre-established, corresponding to corner-flow conditions. Displacement experiments under varying intrinsic wettability show that wetting-film development and non-aqueous droplet detachment are strengthened exclusively on moderately water-wet surfaces satisfying the corner-flow criterion. Investigations across designed porous structures with varying degrees of structural hierarchy validate the generality of the wettability criterion, while improvement in displacement efficiency diminishes with reduced hierarchy. The structural effect arises from variations in flow heterogeneity, with stronger heterogeneity simultaneously promoting film flow and ganglion mobilisation. The coupled impacts of wettability and structural conditions are summarised in an illustrative phase diagram delineating nanoparticle-tuned multiphase displacement. Our findings offer mechanistic insights into complex fluid flow in porous media and suggest optimised strategies for displacement control via nanoparticle suspensions.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Cambridge University Press (CUP) , 2026. Vol. 1030, article id R5
Keywords [en]
porous media, suspensions
National Category
Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology Fluid Mechanics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-378791DOI: 10.1017/jfm.2026.11308ISI: 001708898900001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105032646179OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-378791DiVA, id: diva2:2049428
Note

QC 20260330

Available from: 2026-03-30 Created: 2026-03-30 Last updated: 2026-03-30Bibliographically approved

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