Dynamic Behavior of a Nanosized Water Droplet on the Stepped Surface with a Wetting Gradient

The present study investigated the dynamic behavior of a nanosized water droplet on a flat and stepped surface using molecular dynamics simulations. The effects of a wetting gradient associated with the surface and the step height of a stepped surface on the dynamic behavior of the water droplet were considered in this study. The dynamic behaviors of the water droplet were described quantitatively upon analyzing the transient variation of the adhesion energy and the position of the water droplet along with the time required to climb the step. The water droplet moved smoothly along the surface with an increasing wetting gradient. On the other hand, the step obstructed the water droplet from climbing the step as the step height increases. The dynamic behavior of the water droplet depending on the variation of the normalized step height and the differences in adhesion energies between the different surfaces was classified into three types, namely, (1) fully climbing the step, (2) partially climbing the step, and (3) being blocked by the step. In the case in which the water droplet fully climbs the step, the time taken for the water droplet to fully climb the step showed a non-monotonic pattern as the step height increases.