Reversibility of the Cassie-Wenzel Transition on Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a novel method for determining the amount of energy needed to either force a liquid droplet into a textured surface or pull a liquid droplet from a textured surface. This lends itself to achieving complete control over the motion of a liquid droplet on superhydrophobic surfaces with dielectrophoresis. By accurately determining the energy required for wetting reversibility, the movement of a liquid droplet can be precisely controlled. Inducing wetting reversibility is repeatable and there is no loss of liquid with repeated droplet reactions and movement. In addition, this technology can be applied across a wide range of uniform and non-uniform surface textures and surface feature sizes to enhance surface heat transfer.
Increases the practical uses for superhydrophobic surfaces Increased reliability, repeatability, and ease of integrability within microfluidic frameworks
Biomedical engineering Pharmaceuticals Microfluidics Electrowetting systems Microelectronics thermal management MEMS Lab-on-a-chip systems
Suresh GarimellaCooling Techniques Research CenterPurdue Mechanical Engineering
United States
8,632,670
USA
