Wettability-Engineered Meshes for Gas Microvolume Precision Handling in Liquids

Area of Science:

• Fluid dynamics
• Materials science
• Surface science

Background:

• Gas-microvolume handling and removal are crucial for various technologies.
• Controlling bubble interactions with surfaces is a persistent challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the use of super air-repelling (superaerophobic) and super air-attracting (superaerophilic) metal meshes for manipulating air bubbles in water.
• To investigate how mesh properties and bubble characteristics influence bubble passage and volume manipulation.
• To explore the use of patterned wettability for controlling outgoing bubble size.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing submerged metal meshes with engineered superaerophobic and superaerophilic properties.
• Systematically varying mesh pore size, bubble volume-equivalent diameter, and bubble impact velocity.
• Employing spatial wettability patterns on mesh surfaces.
• Formulating an empirical relation to predict released gas volume.

Main Results:

• Superaerophobic meshes selectively permit or block air bubbles based on pore size, bubble diameter, and impact velocity.
• Superaerophilic meshes can reduce or amplify the volume of captured air bubbles.
• Spatial wettability patterns enable control over the size of outgoing bubbles.
• An empirical relation was developed to predict the volume of released gas.

Conclusions:

• Porous materials with controlled wettability offer precise modulation of bubble/mesh interactions.
• Engineered metal meshes can be effectively used to manipulate microvolumes of air bubbles.
• This research provides a foundation for advanced gas-microvolume handling technologies.