First-order condensation and meniscus pinning in finite open wedges

Abstract

We study first-order condensation in finite open wedges using classical density functional theory (DFT) and compare the resulting microscopic phase behaviour with recent macroscopic predictions. Two geometries are considered: a symmetric wedge formed by two identical inclined walls and an asymmetric wedge formed by a vertical and an inclined wall. The DFT calculations confirm the two condensed morphologies predicted for the symmetric wedge and the three morphologies predicted for the asymmetric wedge and their emergence depending on the wedge size, opening angle, and wall contact angle. Under partial-wetting conditions, the microscopic phase boundaries are in nearly perfect quantitative agreement with the macroscopic predictions, including reentrant changes between pinned and depinned meniscus configurations and the appearance of the semi-double-pinned state in the asymmetric wedge. Under complete-wetting conditions, the DFT phase diagrams retain the topology predicted by the macroscopic theory, but the single-pinned region is systematically enlarged. This shift is attributed to adsorbed liquid films, which reduce the effective width available to the gas and thereby increase the effective aspect ratio of the confinement.