2025 Volume 25 Issue 1 Pages 21-24
The coexistence of two immiscible phases results in the emergence of interfacial tension, also known as interfacial energy. Similarly, one-dimensional boundaries between different interfaces give rise to line tension, or excess line energy. Line tension can be categorized into two types. The first is domain line tension, which occurs at the boundary between two interfacial phases present on the same interface. The second type develops at three-phase boundaries. Common examples include the three-phase contact line of liquid droplets on solid surfaces and small particles adsorbed at air-liquid or liquid-liquid interfaces. This review will discuss the underlying physical mechanisms of these two forms of line tension.
