Cylindrical chains of water drops condensing on microstructured lubricant-infused surfaces.
We studied the condensation of water drops on a micro-structured lubricant-infused surfaces. Hierarchical micro-prism surfaces were fabricated by soft imprinting with wet TiO2nanoparticle paste. After hydrophobization, the patterned surfaces were infused with silicone oil as a lubricant. When cooling at high humidity (over 80%), water drops nucleate and start growing on the surface. Once they have reached a certain size, the drops at neighboring channels of the micro-prisms attract each other and spontaneously form cylindrical chains. These chains of drops align perpendicular to the prism array. The morphology and the length-to-width ratio of the chains of drops depend on the thickness of the lubricant layer. This new concept of water drop alignment on lubricant-infused surfaces offers a new route for pattern formation with condensed drops.
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany. butt@mpip-mainz.mpg.de.
Tadashi
T
Kajiya
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany. butt@mpip-mainz.mpg.de.
Sanghyuk
S
Wooh
The National Creative Research Initiative Center for Intelligent Hybrids & the WCU Program of Chemical Convergence for Energy and Environment, School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
Yunchan
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1276-1830
Y
Lee
The National Creative Research Initiative Center for Intelligent Hybrids & the WCU Program of Chemical Convergence for Energy and Environment, School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
Kookheon
K
Char
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany. butt@mpip-mainz.mpg.de.
Doris
D
Vollmer
Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany. butt@mpip-mainz.mpg.de.
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Butt