Direct Measurement of Solid-Liquid Interfacial Energy Using a Meniscus

Solid-liquid interactions are central to diverse processes. The interaction strength can be described by the solid-liquid interfacial free energy (γSL), a quantity that is difficult to measure. Here, we present the direct experimental measurement of γSL for a variety of solid materials, from nonpolar polymers to highly wetting metals. By attaching a thin solid film on top of a liquid meniscus, we create a solid-liquid interface. The interface determines the curvature of the meniscus, analysis of which yields γSL with an uncertainty of less than 10%. Measurement of classically challenging metal-water interfaces reveals γSL∼30-60 mJ/m2, demonstrating quantitatively that water-metal adhesion is 80% stronger than the cohesion energy of bulk water, and experimentally verifying previous quantum chemical calculations.