Effect of gravity in the Cassie-to-Wenzel transition on a micropatterned surface

Abstract

When the Cassie–Baxter and Wenzel states coexist for a liquid droplet on a micropatterned surface, the Cassie-to-Wenzel transition takes place if the energy barrier is overcome. Although multiple metastable states coexist due to the micropattern, this paper presents a simple Cassie-to-Wenzel transition of a 2 µL water droplet on a particular micropillared surface: When the droplet is gently deposited above the surface, it equalizes to the Cassie state at zero gravity; however, it transitions to the Wenzel state at the terrestrial gravity, in which the gravitational potential energy overcomes the energy barrier between the Cassie and Wenzel states.