Fully reversible transition from Wenzel to Cassie-Baxter states on corrugated superhydrophobic surfaces

Liquid drops on textured surfaces show different dynamical behaviors depending on their wetting states. They are extremely mobile when they are supported by composite solid-liquid-air interfaces (Cassie-Baxter state) and immobile when they fully wet the textured surfaces (Wenzel state). By reversibly switching between these two states, it will be possible to achieve control over the fluid dynamics. Unfortunately, these wetting transitions are usually prevented by surface energy barriers. We demonstrate here a new, simple design paradigm consisting of parallel grooves with an appropriate aspect ratio that allows for the controlled, barrierless, reversible switching of the wetting states upon application of electrowetting. We report a direct observation of the barrierless dynamical pathway for the reversible transitions between the Wenzel (collapsed) and Cassie-Baxter (suspended) states and present a theory that accounts for these transitions, including detailed lattice Boltzmann simulations.