Objective
Liquid-vapor phase change is essential in power generation, heating and cooling, thermal desalination, and membrane distillation. With the advancements enabled by micro/nanoengineering of phase change devices, the interfacial transport resistance becomes increasingly important, dictating the ultimate performance limit. However, fundamental understanding of the interfacial process remains elusive, particularly regarding the interface accommodation coefficients (IACs), which quantify the probability of evaporation and condensation events at the molecular level. Characterizing IACs has been a long-standing challenge, primarily due to the lack of experimental designs sensitive enough to molecule-interface interactions and capable of distinguishing various contributing factors.
The DIAL project aims to demystify the complexities surrounding IACs arising from three key factors – surface charges, interface contamination, and nanoconfinement. Here, we decouple these largely overlooked or insufficiently studied factors by designing a series of targeted experiments, leveraging IR and confocal Raman microscopy for combined thermometry and chemical analysis. With evaporating droplets in vacuum, we establish the baseline for IACs first on pure and then on charged and contaminated fluids. Meanwhile, to investigate the effect associated with phase change devices, we characterize contaminant migration and the corresponding impact on evaporation from membranes with microscale pores and at the same time, build a multiscale model relating IACs to device performance. Finally, with evaporation from sparsely spaced nanotube arrays, we examine the nanoconfinement effect on IACs, overcoming the optical diffraction limit.
By isolating or minimizing specific effects in each configuration, our experiments collectively advance the fundamental understanding of liquid-vapor interfacial transport while offering practical design insights for all interface-sensitive energy and water systems.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology chemical engineering separation technologies desalination
- engineering and technology chemical engineering separation technologies distillation
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.