Scientists have identified that nanometre-sized bubbles containing hydrogen and oxygen gases can combust spontaneously, despite the same not being true for larger bubbles.
Researchers at the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology have demonstrated this event and intend to use it in the construction of a compact ultrasonic loudspeaker.
Evidence of this violent reaction can be seen by the damage to the electrodes which initiate the combustion, these electrodes are used to make hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis in a small reaction chamber, with a continuous alternation of plus and minus poles resulting in bubbles containing both gases.
One of the lead scientists Vitaly Svetovoy was researching how it may be possible to create an actuator, used in loudspeakers for ultrasonic frequencies undetectable by the human ear in the medical world, using the build up of bubbles.
He initially found that while building up bubble was rapid, the disappearance was too slow, but the discovery of spontaneous combustion has solved that.
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