Abstract
Droplet capture and release are very significant for droplet manipulation on a superhydrophobic surface. Once the aqueous droplets impact the stiff superhydrophobic surface, they easily detach from the surface and generate chaotic motion without much energy loss. Thus, it is difficult to catch and manipulate the droplets falling on these kinds of surfaces. In this study, a droplet was captured after impacting the superhydrophobic porous sponge. Most of the kinetic energy of a falling droplet is transferred into the elastic potential energy of a sponge. The absorbed energy in the deformation process and the elastic modulus of sponge were adjusted by the porosity of the sponge. With the decrease in density, the elastic modulus of the sponge decreases, and the energy loss increases. During the droplet impacting process, the sponge with smaller elastic modulus can obtain much more energy from the droplet, which makes it easy to drag and capture the droplet. This new design also has other potential applications, such as water collection and fog harvest.
Highlights
A superhydrophobic surface equipped with a water-harvest function could be helpful for self-cleaning and water collection in extreme environments.1–4 Stiff superhydrophobic surfaces show excellent repellence performance when hit by water droplets.5,6 Due to the large surface tension, droplets cannot penetrate the cavities of topography; instead, they will suspend in the top region of the solid roughness surface
Once the aqueous droplets impact the stiff superhydrophobic surface, they detach from the surface and generate chaotic motion without much energy loss
Most of the kinetic energy of a falling droplet is transferred into the elastic potential energy of a sponge
Summary
A superhydrophobic surface equipped with a water-harvest function could be helpful for self-cleaning and water collection in extreme environments. Stiff superhydrophobic surfaces show excellent repellence performance when hit by water droplets. Due to the large surface tension, droplets cannot penetrate the cavities of topography; instead, they will suspend in the top region of the solid roughness surface. Stiff superhydrophobic surfaces show excellent repellence performance when hit by water droplets.. The energy loss is mainly induced by its deformation, and it is hard to harvest a complete droplet on these sorts of surfaces. This phenomenon is totally different on the flexible surface, for example, the impact of droplets on a soft lotus leaf. The flexible micro-papillae deformed to absorb the kinetic energy from the falling droplet to protect the nanorods on the micro-papillae surface.. Because of its excellent flexibility and larger porosity, porous sponge has been widely accepted in packing, oil-collection, thermal isolation, and icing delay fields.. Even in sub-zero conditions, water droplets on the surface are delayed in freezing.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
