Capturing atomic wetting dynamics in real time

Journal article

Atomic-scale wetting governs material formation at the nanoscale but remains poorly understood under confinement, where classical capillarity models fail. The growth of metallic nanowires within multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) exemplifies this challenge, requiring precise control over wetting, nucleation, and vapour-phase condensation. Here we show that nanowire formation proceeds through a two-stage mechanism: curvature-driven nucleation at open tube ends followed by capillary-driven elongation sustained by continuous vapour condensation. Using in situ atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy (ARTEM) coupled with a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) capable of classifying liquid, solid and intermediate SnxO phase transitions, we directly capture the cascade of thermally induced nanowire growth within CNTs. Growth requires a wetting interface (contact angle, θ <90°) between liquid SnxO and the nanotube wall-conditions not described by Kelvin or Lucas-Washburn models. These results establish a predictive framework for vapour-phase nanowire encapsulation, linking nanoscale wetting dynamics to the fabrication of advanced nanomaterials.

Authors: Tebbutt, GT; Allen, CS; Fabijańska, A; Maciejewska, BM; Grobert, N

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Publication date: 2025-11-28
• Acceptance date: 2025-11-06
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-66416-1
• EISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• Language: English