title: Direct method of tracing the wetting states on nanocomposite surfaces.
abstract: Identifying the two distinctive wetting states on a nanostructured surface remains an open challenge. We report here a direct method of tracing the Wenzel and Cassie states by using Ag nanoparticles as tracing agents. The method provides an answer to the long-standing question of whether there is a transition from the Wenzel to Cassie state in the sliding angle drop on superhydrophobic nanocomposite thin films containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science & Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Kevin K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Cindy X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Gu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Yiliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Nan-Xing
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Hu