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Published on: March 29, 2018
Droplet Self-Propulsion on Slippery Liquid-Infused Surfaces with Dual-Lubricant Wedge-Shaped Wettability Patterns
Michele Pelizzari1, Glen McHale1, Steven Armstrong1
1Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, U.K.
Researchers created patterned liquid-infused surfaces for droplet self-propulsion. These surfaces utilize distinct lubricant domains to control liquid behavior, enabling low-friction movement and offering insights into liquid-surface interactions.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Materials Science
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Young's equation governs solid surface wettability via contact angles.
- Liquid Young's law contact angles describe wettability on slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for fabricating biphilic SLIPS.
- To investigate the exploitation of composite SLIPS wettability for droplet self-propulsion.
- To model droplet motion on patterned liquid surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of biphilic SLIPS on silicon substrates using patterned Teflon AF1600 and superhydrophobic coatings.
- Selective imbibition of two distinct lubricant oils (Krytox and olive oil) into patterned domains.
- Development of an analytical model for droplet motion on wedge-shaped SLIPS.
Main Results:
- Successful creation of composite liquid surfaces with segregated oil domains.
- Demonstration of low-friction droplet self-propulsion on macroscopic wedge-shaped SLIPS.
- Derivation of scaling relationships for droplet motion based on wettability and geometry.
Conclusions:
- Introduced a new approach for patterned liquid lubricant surfaces.
- Demonstrated long-distance droplet self-propulsion on these surfaces.
- Provided insights into liquid droplet and liquid surface interactions.
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