Efficient Self-Propelling of Small-Scale Condensed Microdrops by Closely Packed ZnO Nanoneedles
Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2014 papers
Abstract
Realizing the efficient self-propelling of small-scale condensed microdrops is very challenging but extremely important to design and develop advanced condensation heat transfer nanomaterials and devices, for example, for power generation and thermal management. Here, we present the efficient self-propelling of small-scale condensed microdrops on the surface of closely packed ZnO nanoneedles, as-synthesized by facile, rapid, and inexpensive wet chemical crystal growth followed by hydrophobic modification. Compared with flat surfaces, the nanostructured surfaces with the same low-surface-energy chemistry possess far higher time-averaged density of condensed droplets at the microscale, among which those with diameters below 10 μm occupy more than 80% of the total drop number of residual condensates. Theoretical analyses clearly reveal that this remarkable property should be ascribed to the extremely low solid-liquid adhesion of the surface nanostructure, where excess surface energy released from the coalescence of smaller condensed microdrops can be sufficient to ensure the self-propelled jumping of merged microdrops.
Related Papers
- → The effect of non‐uniform microscale distribution of sorption sites on solute diffusion in soil(2016)11 cited
- → The development of a microscale strain measurement system applied to sheet bulge hydroforming(2014)9 cited
- → The Study of Microscale Effect Assessment in Micro Forming(2014)
- PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF MICROSCALE LABORATORY(2000)
- A Design of Microscale Chemistry Experiments(2009)