Coupling Effects of Ionic Surfactants and Electrolytes on the Stability of Bulk Nanobubbles

As interest in the extensive application of bulk nanobubbles increases, it is becoming progressively important to understand the key factors affecting their anomalous stability. The scientific intrigue over nanobubbles originates from the discrepancy between the Epstein–Plesset prediction and experimental observations. Herein, the coupling effects of ionic surfactants and electrolytes on the stability of bulk nanobubbles is studied. Experimental results show that ionic surfactants not only reduce the surface tension but also promote the accumulation of net charges, which facilitate the nucleation and stabilization of bulk nanobubbles. The addition of an electrolyte in a surfactant solution further results in a decrease in the zeta potential and the number concentration of nanobubbles due to the ion shielding effect, essentially colloidal stability. An adsorption model for the coexistence of ionic surfactants and electrolytes in solution, that specifically considers the effect of the adsorption layer thickness within the framework of the modified Poisson–Boltzmann equation, is developed. A quantitative agreement between the predicted and experimental surface tension is found in a wide range of bulk concentrations. The spatial distribution of the surface potential, surfactant ions and counterions in the vicinity of the interface of bulk nanobubbles are described. Our study intrinsically paves a route to investigate the stability of bulk nanobubbles.