Quantifying Wetting Dynamics with Triboelectrification

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to quantify and track wetting dynamics using triboelectrification, providing insights into wetting transitions influenced by surface geometries.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to measure wetting evolution through triboelectrification and offers a theoretical framework for understanding wetting transitions.

Findings

Wetting dynamics can be accurately tracked using triboelectrification.

Surface geometries influence wetting stability and infiltration.

Theoretical models explain wetting transition mechanisms.

Abstract

Wetting is often perceived as an intrinsic surface property of materials, but determining its evolution is complicated by its complex dependence on roughness across the scales. The Wenzel state, where liquids have intimate contact with the rough substrate, and the Cassie-Baxter state, where liquids sit onto air pockets formed between asperities, are only two states among the plethora of wetting behaviors. Furthermore, transitions from the Cassie-Baxter to the Wenzel state dictate completely different surface performance, such as anti-contamination, anti-icing, drag reduction etc.; however, little is known about how transition occurs during time between the several wetting modes. In this paper, we show that wetting dynamics can be accurately quantified and tracked using solid-liquid triboelectrification. Theoretical underpinning reveals how surface micro-/nano-geometries regulate stability/infiltration, also demonstrating the generality of our theoretical approach in understanding wetting transitions.