A Visualization Study of Liquid Spreading on Micro/nano Textured Surfaces with Synchrotron X-ray Imaging

Abstract

Nano/micro technology is currently applied to improve solid surface wettability, with recent research studies indicating that nanostructures can improve surface wettability in the hydrophilic direction, and liquid spreading (propagation) is generated by capillary wicking. The majority of the existing research involves qualitative analysis of the spreading phenomena, owing to the difficulty in conducting small-scale analysis (nanostructures). In this study, the droplet interfacial behavior on silicon surfaces with micro/nano/micro-nano structures is experimentally investigated. The interfacial behavior is directly visualized using synchrotron X-ray imaging (side view). The spreading phenomena occur on structured surfaces, and the liquid interface behaviors on the surfaces differ. The liquid film thickness is uniform during spreading on the microstructured surface, but not on the nano case which shows a gentle slope. These combined spreading shapes were observed on a micro-nano structured surface, and liquid propagation was enhanced when the micro-And nano-structures are combined. © 2017 The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers.