a d b c FIG. 2: Typical KMC results for the final dried-in nanoparticle structures resulting from the evaporative dewetting processes of nanoparticle solutions (nanofluids) in the case of (a) a spinodal-like process at µ = − 2 . 55 , (b) nucleation and growth of holes at µ = − 2 . 3 , (c) unstable fronts at µ = − 2 . 3 and low mobility M = 5 , and (d) unstable fronts at µ = − 2 . 3 and medium mobility M = 10 . The starting configuration in (a) and (b) is a homogeneous liquid film with uniformly distributed particles whereas in (c) and (d) a hole at the center is nucleated ‘by hand’. The remaining parameters are (a,b) M = 50 , ϵ$_{nl}$ = 2 . 0 , ϵ$_{nn}$ = 1 . 5 , ρ av n = 0 . 2 , kT = 0 . 3 , MC steps = 500 , domain size 1200 × 1200 ; (c,d) ε$_{nn}$ = 2 . 0 , ϵ$_{nl}$ = 1 . 5 , ρ av n = 0 . 2 , kT = 0 . 2 , MC steps = 3000 , domain size 1200 × 1200 . Lattice sites occupied by particles are coloured black, and the empty sites are coloured white. 11