Capillary condensation within nanopores of various geometries

We study the size and shape dependence on capillary condensation within nanopores. We present phenomenological theories which are often used in the field of surface melting. The models are compared to grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation results. We propose an alternative expression of the Kelvin equation to describe the transition pressure within cylindrical nanopores. The consideration of condensation within noncylindrical geometries leads us to a rough method for the determination of the saturation pressure and to the study of the effect of the geometry on the nature of the adsorption isotherms. (C) Elsevier Science B.V.