We use thermodynamic models and molecular simulations to show that liquid-density fluctuations near solid surfaces can affect the driving force for capillary-motion under non-isothermal conditions. The above is possible for weakly attractive solid surfaces that show spatial variation of nanoscale roughness at large scales and chemical heterogeneities at small scales. Our model also indicates that the capillary-motion driven by interfacial fluctuations can improve the energy-efficiency of nano-fluidic devices. We have discussed the implications for two scenarios: 1) liquid inside a pore, and 2) an axisymmetric liquid droplet on a flat surface.

中文翻译：

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固体表面附近的液体密度波动可以驱动纳米级液滴的运动吗？

我们使用热力学模型和分子模拟表明，固体表面附近的液体密度波动会影响非等温条件下毛细管运动的驱动力。对于具有较小吸引力的固体表面，上述情况是可能的，该固体表面在大规模上显示出纳米级粗糙度的空间变化，在小规模上显示出化学异质性。我们的模型还表明，由界面波动驱动的毛细管运动可以提高纳米流体装置的能效。我们讨论了两种情况的含义：1）孔内的液体，以及2）平坦表面上的轴对称液滴。