Wettability Switching Techniques on Superhydrophobic Surfaces

By N. Verplanck, Y. Coffinier, V. Thomy, Rabah Boukherroub. Nanoscale Research Letters, 2007

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The wetting properties of superhydrophobic surfaces have generated worldwide research interest. A water drop on these surfaces forms a nearly perfect spherical pearl. Superhydrophobic materials hold considerable promise for potential applications ranging from self cleaning surfaces, completely water impermeable textiles to low cost energy displacement of liquids in lab-on-chip devices. However, the dynamic modification of the liquid droplets behavior and in particular of their wetting properties on these surfaces is still a challenging issue. In this review, after a brief overview on superhydrophobic states definition, the techniques leading to the modification of wettability behavior on superhydrophobic surfaces under specific conditions: optical, magnetic, mechanical, chemical, thermal are discussed. Finally, a focus on electrowetting is made from historical phenomenon pointed out some decades ago on classical planar hydrophobic surfaces to recent breakthrough obtained on superhydrophobic surfaces.

Subfields: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Surfaces, Coatings and Films

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/4d41a42c89b4de09a776e7bc4acedb4b46c03cb1

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