How to Achieve Reversible Electrowetting on Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Collapse (Cassie to Wenzel) wetting transitions impede the electrostatically induced reversible modification of wettability on superhydrophobic surfaces, unless a strong external actuation (e.g., substrate heating) is applied. Here we show that collapse transitions can be prevented (the droplet remains suspended on the solid roughness protrusions) when the electrostatic force, responsible for the wetting modification, is smoothly distributed along the droplet surface. The above argument is initially established theoretically and then verified experimentally.