A kinetic model for evaporation of a simple fluid from nanopores

Evaporating/condensating flows involving liquids wetting nanopores are at the basis of both biological and artificial processes. Contrary to the dynamics of a vapor in contact with a free liquid surface, evaporation/condensation from/to surfaces is strongly affected by the interaction of the liquid-vapor system with the walls. The latter shows up by modifying the equilibrium saturated vapor pressure not only through the curvature of the liquid menisci filling the nanopores but also changing the properties of the liquid-vapor system when the two phases are in the vicinity of the walls. The aim of the present study is the investigation of the phase change behaviour of a simple fluid, wetting a planar wall hosting a periodic array of equispaced nanopores.