Motion of nanodroplets near edges and wedges

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nanodroplets behave near edges and wedges on solid surfaces, showing that their movement is influenced by disjoining pressure variations which can cause attraction or repulsion.

Contribution

It provides nanoscale hydrodynamic calculations demonstrating the influence of disjoining pressure on nanodroplet dynamics near edges and wedges.

Findings

Nanodroplets are attracted or repelled depending on disjoining pressure details.

Surface coatings can modify disjoining pressure effects.

The study offers insights into nanoscale droplet manipulation.

Abstract

Nanodroplets residing near wedges or edges of solid substrates exhibit a disjoining pressure induced dynamics. Our nanoscale hydrodynamic calculations reveal that non-volatile droplets are attracted or repelled from edges or wedges depending on details of the corresponding laterally varying disjoining pressure generated, e.g., by a possible surface coating.