Work

Biotemplated hierarchical surfaces and the role of dual length scales on the repellency of impacting droplets

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: We fabricated biomimetic hierarchical superhydrophobic surfaces using the Tobacco mosaic virus and investigated the role of each length scale during droplet impact by decomposing the micro and nanoscale components. We found that 10 μl water droplets rebounded at impact velocities greater than 4.3 m/s on the hierarchical surfaces, outperforming the nanostructured surfaces, which underwent an observable wetting transition at an impact velocity of 2.7 m/s. This finding demonstrates that each length scale plays a distinct, but complementary, role in maximizing water repellency during droplet impact and, thus, provides insight into the evolutionary development of highly water-repellant hierarchical plant leaves.

Source: Applied Physics Letters

DOI: 10.1063/1.4729935

Authors: Matthew McCarthy, Konstantinos Gerasopoulos, Ryan Enright, James N. Culver, Reza Ghodssi, Evelyn N. Wang

Institutions: Drexel University, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Limerick, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity

Subfield: Surfaces, Coatings and Films

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2019570062

FWCI: 4.165

Cites: 32

Cited by: 103

Related to: 10