The self-propelled movement of the water nanodroplet in different surface wettability gradients: A contact angle view

K Zhang and FH Wang and X Zhao, COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE, 124, 190-194 (2016).

DOI: 10.1016/j.commatsci.2016.07.026

In this work, the movement of the water nanodroplet, which was propelled by the wettability gradient from the view of the contact angle, was investigated by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the meantime, all of the contact angle range was discussed in detail. Results showed that the average speed of the water nanodroplet propelled by the wettability gradient could be affected by both the wettability of the initial section and the wettability gradient. The phenomenon revealed that a larger gradient and a relatively hydrophilic status of initial section could lead to a higher speed. In addition, the movement pattern of the water nanodroplet propelled by wettability gradient is similar to the principle of the caterpillar band. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Return to Publications page