Curvature Gradient Driving Droplets in Fast Motion

TL;DR

This paper reveals that droplets can spontaneously move directionally on any surface due to curvature gradients, with faster motion on surfaces with smaller radii, enhancing droplet transport technologies and understanding natural phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that curvature gradients alone can drive droplet motion, regardless of contact angle properties, expanding the understanding of droplet dynamics.

Findings

Droplets exhibit spontaneous directional motion driven by surface curvature gradients.

Faster droplet motion occurs on surfaces with smaller curvature radii.

The curvature gradient force is proportional to the surface's curvature change.

Abstract

Earlier works found out spontaneous directional motion of liquid droplets on hydrophilic conical surfaces, however, not hydrophobic case. Here we show that droplets on any surface may take place spontaneous directional motion without considering contact angle property. The driving force is found to be proportional to the curvature gradient of the surface. Fast motion can be lead at surfaces with small curvature radii. The above discovery can help to create more effective transportation technology of droplets, and better understand some observed natural phenomena.