Self-propulsion of droplets by spatially-varying surface topography
Self-propulsion of droplets by spatially-varying surface topography
Under partial wetting conditions, making a substrate uniformly rougher enhances the wetting characteristics of the corresponding smooth substrate—hydrophilic systems become even more hydrophilic and hydrophobic systems even more hydrophobic. Here we show theoretically that spatial texturing of the substrate topography may lead to spontaneous propulsion of droplets. Individual droplets tend …