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Related Concept Videos

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity02:57

Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity

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Surface Tension
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...
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Surface Tension of Fluid01:22

Surface Tension of Fluid

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Surface tension is a fundamental property of fluids, occurring at the boundary between a liquid and a gas or between two immiscible liquids. This phenomenon arises from the cohesive forces between molecules at the fluid's surface, creating an effect similar to a stretched elastic membrane. Inside each fluid, molecules are equally attracted in all directions by neighboring molecules, but surface molecules experience a net inward force, resulting in surface tension.
Surface tension varies...
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Surface Tension and Surface Energy01:16

Surface Tension and Surface Energy

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When a paint brush is immersed in water, the bristles wave freely inside the water. When it is taken out, the bristles stick together. The reason behind this effect is surface tension.
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,...
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Cohesion01:07

Cohesion

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Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same type, such as water molecules. Water molecules have an overall neutral charge but are polar molecule. An oxygen atom in one water molecule has a partial negative charge that can bind to a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge in a second water molecule, forming a hydrogen bond. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with other water molecules. Hydrogen bonds are responsible for water's cohesive nature.
On a...
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Capillarity in Fluid01:19

Capillarity in Fluid

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Capillarity describes the movement of liquid in small spaces without external forces acting on it. The capillarity is driven by surface tension and adhesive interactions between the liquid and surrounding solid surfaces. This effect is often seen in narrow tubes, porous materials, and fine particles.
Surface tension is crucial to capillarity. It results from cohesive forces between liquid molecules at the liquid-air boundary, forming a skin that resists external forces. When the capillary tube...
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Contact Angle01:13

Contact Angle

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When a solid is dipped inside a liquid, the liquid surface becomes curved near the contact. For some solid–liquid interfaces, the liquid is pulled up along the solid, while for others, the liquid surface is convex or depressed near the solid surface. This phenomenon can be explained using the concept of cohesive and adhesive forces.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Rendering SiO2/Si Surfaces Omniphobic by Carving Gas-Entrapping Microtextures Comprising Reentrant and Doubly Reentrant Cavities or Pillars
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Topography versus chemistry - How can we control surface wetting?

Sarah Marie Lößlein1, Frank Mücklich1, Philipp G Grützmacher1

  • 1Chair of Functional Materials, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Campus D3 3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|November 29, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Engineered surfaces with specific patterns and chemical coatings control water droplet behavior. The study shows that surface chemistry, combined with topography, is crucial for achieving desired wetting and spreading characteristics.

Keywords:
Cassie-Baxter wettingDirect laser writingPVD-coatingStatic contact angleWenzel wettingWettingWetting anisotropy

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Proof-of-Concept for Gas-Entrapping Membranes Derived from Water-Loving SiO2/Si/SiO2 Wafers for Green Desalination
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Selective Area Modification of Silicon Surface Wettability by Pulsed UV Laser Irradiation in Liquid Environment
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Related Experiment Videos

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Rendering SiO2/Si Surfaces Omniphobic by Carving Gas-Entrapping Microtextures Comprising Reentrant and Doubly Reentrant Cavities or Pillars
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Selective Area Modification of Silicon Surface Wettability by Pulsed UV Laser Irradiation in Liquid Environment
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Selective Area Modification of Silicon Surface Wettability by Pulsed UV Laser Irradiation in Liquid Environment

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Surface Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Wetting characterization is vital for industrial applications.
  • Surface chemistry significantly influences wetting on flat surfaces.
  • Anisotropic surface patterns introduce complexity to wetting phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interplay between surface topography and chemistry on water wettability.
  • To understand how engineered surfaces affect droplet spreading.
  • To identify the role of surface chemistry in anisotropic wetting.

Main Methods:

  • Direct laser writing to create anisotropic line patterns on steel samples.
  • Applying homogeneous surface coatings for chemical masking.
  • Analyzing static contact angles and wetting anisotropy.

Main Results:

  • Carbon coating promoted wettability and spreading along anisotropy.
  • Gold-palladium coating suppressed anisotropic spreading.
  • Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter wetting states were identified based on coating type.

Conclusions:

  • Surface chemistry is critical for realizing anisotropic wetting.
  • Engineered surfaces require tailored chemistry to control droplet behavior.
  • The combination of topography and chemistry unlocks potential for advanced wetting control.