Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Rendering SiO2/Si Surfaces Omniphobic by Carving Gas-Entrapping Microtextures Comprising Reentrant and Doubly Reentrant Cavities or Pillars
Published on: February 11, 2020
Massive amplification of surface-induced transport at superhydrophobic surfaces
David M Huang1, Cécile Cottin-Bizonne, Christophe Ybert
1LPMCN, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, France.
Abstract:
We study electro- and diffusio-osmosis of aqueous electrolytes at superhydrophobic surfaces by means of computer simulation and hydrodynamic theory. We demonstrate that the diffusio-osmotic flow at superhydrophobic surfaces can be amplified by more than 3 orders of magnitude relative to flow in channels with a zero interfacial slip. By contrast, little enhancement is observed at these surfaces for electro-osmotic flow. This amplification for diffusio-osmosis is due to the combined effects of enhanced slip and ion surface depletion or excess at the air-water interfaces on superhydrophobic surfaces. This effect is interpreted in terms of capillary driven Marangoni motion. A practical microfluidic pumping device is sketched on the basis of the slip-enhanced diffusio-osmosis at a superhydrophobic surface.
Related Concept Videos
Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
Surface Tension and Surface Energy
Consider a beaker filled with liquid. The bulk molecules in the liquid experience equal attractive forces on all sides with the surrounding molecules. However, the surface molecules experience a net attractive force downward due to the bulk molecules. The surface of the liquid behaves like a stretched membrane,...
Facilitated Transport
Facilitated Transport
Surface Tension of Fluid
Surface tension varies with...
Surface Active Agents

