What are Nanobubbles

Too small to even be imaged with light, nanobubbles are very small (tens of nanometers in diameter) that adhere to the surface of some solids placed in a liquid environment. Nanobubbles usually form on a surface spontaneously due in part to the hydrophobic properties of some materials: for example, they may form on the flat surface of a piece of gold as it is exposed to water. In some cases, this phenomenon would of course be undesirable but it can also be harnessed as useful applications.

One such application is hyper-oxygenated water. Oxygen nanobubbles infused in water allow faster oxygenation and result in greater oxygen content. Highly oxygenated water can be useful in manufacturing (ex. drugs) and is very handy for keeping fish or bait alive longer.

Other potential applications include: trapping gas nanobubbles to provide thermo barriers on substrates, sticky or slick additives, even the synthesis of new materials. Another more recent and exciting application involves infusing blood with nanobubbles to clear clotting (stroke treatment).

Just as anything in the nanoscale, nanobubbles enjoy certain exceptions to laws of physics due to the way in which atoms and particles interact at this level. One example of this is that it is widely believed that nanobubbles can contain higher pressures due to their smaller size. Because of these unique features, we are sure to discover more valuable applications for nanobubbles as more is learned about them.