Thermodynamic Study of the Role of Interface Curvature on Multicomponent Vapor-Liquid Phase Equilibrium

The effect of interface curvature on phase equilibrium has been much more studied for single-component than multicomponent systems. We isolate the effect of curvature on multicomponent vapor liquid equilibrium (VLE) phase envelopes and phase composition diagrams using the ideal system methanol/ethanol and the nonideal system ethanol/water as illustrative examples. An important finding is how nanoscale interface curvature shifts the azeotrope (equal volatility point) of nonideal systems. Understanding of the effect of curvature on VLE can be exploited in future nanoscale prediction and design.