Quantifying Wetting Dynamics with Triboelectrification

Area of Science:

• Surface science and materials science
• Physics of wetting phenomena
• Triboelectricity and surface interactions

Background:

• Wetting is complex, influenced by surface roughness and scale.
• Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter states are key wetting modes, but transitions are poorly understood.
• Understanding wetting transitions is crucial for applications like anti-contamination and drag reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To accurately quantify and track wetting dynamics over time.
• To investigate the transitions between different wetting states (e.g., Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel).
• To elucidate the role of surface micro-/nano-geometries in wetting stability and infiltration.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing solid-liquid triboelectrification for real-time wetting dynamics monitoring.
• Developing a theoretical framework to analyze wetting transitions.
• Correlating surface topography with wetting behavior.

Main Results:

• Solid-liquid triboelectrification accurately quantifies wetting dynamics.
• Theoretical underpinning explains how surface geometry controls wetting stability and infiltration.
• Demonstrated generality of the theoretical approach for understanding wetting transitions.

Conclusions:

• Solid-liquid triboelectrification offers a novel method for studying wetting dynamics.
• Surface micro-/nano-geometries are critical determinants of wetting state stability and transitions.
• The findings clarify material functioning in real-world environments and enable tailored surface performance.