Glossary: Hysteresis

Adsorption hysteresis is said to occur when adsorption and desorption values deviate from one another.

In physical adsorption, hysteresis is evidence of mesoporosity. The actual definition of mesopores (2–50 nm) is associated with the appearance (50 nm) and disappearance (2 nm) of mesoporosity in nitrogen adsorption isotherms as a function of Kelvin radius.

The specific causes of adsorption hysteresis are still an active area of research, but it is linked to differences in the nucleation and evaporation mechanisms inside mesopores. These mechanisms are further complicated by effects such as cavitation and pore blocking.