Controllable self-transport of bouncing droplets on ultraslippery surfaces with wedge-shaped grooves

Abstract

Preventing the accretion of droplets on surfaces is vital and slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) have promising application prospects, such as surface selfcleaning and droplet transportation. In this work, controllable self-transport of bouncing droplets on ultraslippery surfaces with wedge-shaped grooves is reported. The impact behaviors of droplets on SLIPS under various impact velocities and diameters are explored, which can be classified as hover, total bounce, partial bounce, Worthington jet, and crush. SLIPS with wedge-shaped grooves were designed to transport accreted droplets. An energy and transport model is established to explain the impact and self-transport mechanism, where the Laplace pressure and moving resistance between droplets play a key role. Finally, SLIPS with branched wedgeshaped grooves were designed for droplet self-transport and demonstrated advantages. This work provides a general reference for spontaneous motion control of sessile droplets, droplets with initial impacting velocity, or even liquid films.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 2024 The Authors. Droplet published by Jilin University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.