A proposal is made to demonstrate features of thermodynamic evaporation at the nanoscale using only an external electric field. The consequences of exposure to both uniform and nonuniform electric field on the water nanofilms are analyzed through molecular dynamics simulations. The temporal evolution of temperature and molecular nucleation under uniform electric field resembles evaporation at high heat. The temperature fluctuations of the system are analyzed from the density variation of the system, which has received no heat input from outside. Evaporation like process and nucleation from the water surface is described as a systematic polarization of the water molecules in the presence of electric field. The nucleation of the vapor bubble with a nonuniform electric field also shows similarity with heat-induced pool boiling. The reason behind isolated nucleation is analyzed from the temperature map of the system at different time instants. Possible surface instabilities due to the exposure of electric field on water nanolayer are also elaborated for both uniform and nonuniform cases.

An effort has been made to understand the nucleate and the rapid film boiling phenomena under the influence of an electric field using a molecular viewpoint. The behavior of water molecules with a solid copper surface during the film boiling process in the presence of an electric field of different intensities has been studied. The molecular reasoning behind the suppression of the Leidenfrost phenomenon upon application of a uniform electric field along the heating substrate is established. Furthermore, the effect of surface characteristics with different wettabilities on film boiling in the presence of an electric field has also been studied. The electric field produces a finger-like water column besides thinning of the water film over a non-wetting surface. A similar phenomenon is also evident over a hydrophilic surface only after reaching a threshold value of electric charge intensity. Molecular simulations have explained the phenomenon of nucleate boiling of water on hydrophilic or non-wetting surfaces. Finally, the ability to control the bubble formation and suppression at a required location using an electric field has also been demonstrated. The water molecules near the surface experience dispersion at a lower electric field and an attraction force at a higher electric field, mimicking bubble nucleation and suppression, respectively.

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