title: Wetting Driven by Thermal Fluctuations on Terraced Nanostructures.
abstract: Theoretical analysis and fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations reveal a Brownian ratchet mechanism by which thermal fluctuations drive the net displacement of immiscible liquids confined in channels or pores with micro- or nanoscale dimensions. The thermally driven displacement is induced by surface nanostructures with directional asymmetry and can occur against the direction of action of wetting or capillary forces. Mean displacement rates in molecular dynamics simulations are predicted via analytical solution of a Smoluchowski diffusion equation for the position probability density. The proposed physical mechanisms and derived analytical expressions can be applied to engineer surface nanostructures for controlling the dynamics of diverse wetting processes such as capillary filling, wicking, and imbibition in micro- or nanoscale systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Colosqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA.
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA.
authors.forename: Amir M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rahmani