Fabrication of extreme wettability surface for controllable droplet manipulation over a wide temperature range

Abstract

Droplet controllable manipulation over a wide temperature range has promising applications in microelectronic heat dissipation, inkjet printing, and high temperature microfluidic system. However, the fabrication of a platform for controllable droplet manipulation using the methods commonly used in industry remains a tremendously challenge. The popular method of controlling droplets is highly dependent on external energy input and relatively poor controllability in terms of droplet motion behaviors and manipulation environment, such as distance, velocity, direction and a wide temperature range. Here, we report a facile and industrially applicable method for preparing Al superhydrophobic (S-phobic) surfaces, and enables controlled droplet bouncing, evaporation, and transport over a wide temperature range, as well as systematic mechanistic studies are investigated. Extreme wettability surfaces were prepared on Al substrate by a composite process of electrochemical mask etching and micro-milling. To investigate the evaporation process and thermal coupling characteristics, controlled evaporation and controlled bouncing of droplet in a wide temperature range were conducted. Based on the evaporation regulation and bouncing mechanism of droplets on extreme wettability surface, by using Laplace pressure gradients and temperature gradients, we realized controlled transport of droplets with confluence, split-flow, and gravity-resistant transport over a wide temperature range, offering a potential platform for a series of applications, such as new drug candidates and water collection.

Bionic surface diode for droplet steering

“…Coordination between superhydrophobicity and external stimuli, such as light, 17,18 electricity, 19,20 pH, 21 temperature, 22 magnetism, 23 and so forth, is an advisable strategy to achieve such exquisite functions. However, stimulus-responsive superhydrophobic surfaces are not suitable for mild biomedical applications and the engineering aspects that the stimuli cannot access.…”

“…Homogeneous superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit isotropic droplet adhesion, 15,16 thus sophisticated manipulations that necessitate droplet transport on the designed path are restricted. Coordination between superhydrophobicity and external stimuli, such as light, 17,18 electricity, 19,20 pH, 21 temperature, 22 magnetism, 23 and so forth, is an advisable strategy to achieve such exquisite functions. However, stimulus‐responsive superhydrophobic surfaces are not suitable for mild biomedical applications and the engineering aspects that the stimuli cannot access.…”

Super Water-Storage Self-Adhesive Gel for Solar Vapor Generation and Collection

“…Superabsorbent materials, who usually consist of three-dimensional (3D) network structures and cross-linked branches, have been widely studied due to their excellent hydrophilic properties as well as high swelling capacity. − Generally speaking, most of the superabsorbent materials are based on natural polymers such as gum, cellulose sulfate, starch, and synthetic polymers like sulfonated polystyrene and polyacrylates . The absorbency of polyacrylates based hydrogel has reached more than 100 times than its own weight, showing excellent potentials in drug delivery, water caption, biomedical applications, and so on. , However, the lack of self-adhesiveness, low transmittance, time–cost fabrication process as well as short service time severely limit their applications in solar vapor collection. Therefore, novel superabsorbent materials with multiple functions and new fabrication methods (such as 3D printing technique − ) suitable for solar vapor collection is of vital importance for hydrological cycle enabled by solar energy.…”

“…42 The absorbency of polyacrylates based hydrogel has reached more than 100 times than its own weight, showing excellent potentials in drug delivery, 43 water caption, 38 biomedical applications, 44 and so on. 45,46 However, the lack of self-adhesiveness, low transmittance, time−cost fabrication process as well as short service time severely limit their applications in solar vapor collection. Therefore, novel superabsorbent materials with multiple functions and new fabrication methods (such as 3D printing technique 47−49 ) suitable for solar vapor collection is of vital importance for hydrological cycle enabled by solar energy.…”

Advances in the Research of Photo, Electrical, and Magnetic Responsive Smart Superhydrophobic Materials: Synthesis and Potential Applications

“…This unique wetting behavior makes superhydrophobic surfaces highly promising in various fields, such as selfcleaning, [18][19][20][21][22][23] corrosion resistance, [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] anti-icing, [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] oil-water separation, [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] and microfluidic devices. [48][49][50][51][52][53] With the development of society and rapid technological advances, the superhydrophobic industry has become a globally strategic industry that profoundly affects daily life. Due to the significant impact of superhydrophobic surfaces in both fundamental research and industrial applications, they have received widespread attention.…”