Self-propelled sweeping removal of dropwise condensate

Xiaopeng Qu, Jonathan B. Boreyko, Fangjie Liu, Rebecca L. Agapov, Nickolay V. Lavrik, Scott T. Retterer, James J. Feng, C. Patrick Collier, Chuan Hua Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

109 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dropwise condensation can be enhanced by superhydrophobic surfaces on which the condensate drops spontaneously jump upon coalescence. However, the self-propelled jumping in prior reports is mostly perpendicular to the substrate. Here, we propose a substrate design with regularly spaced micropillars. Coalescence on the sidewalls of the micropillars leads to self-propelled jumping in a direction nearly orthogonal to the pillars and therefore parallel to the substrate. This in-plane motion in turn produces sweeping removal of multiple neighboring drops. The spontaneous sweeping mechanism may greatly enhance dropwise condensation in a self-sustained manner.

Original languageEnglish
Article number221601
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume106
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2015

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Science FoundationCBET-12-36373
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

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