Design of Wetting on Complex Surfaces: Superhydrophilic to Superhydrophobic Transitions and Lubricant-Infused Integration

Hong-Ren Jiang^1*

¹Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University, Taiwan

* Presenter:Hong-Ren Jiang, email:hrjiang@iam.ntu.edu.tw

This presentation will include a framework for engineering wetting behaviors through interfacial energy manipulation and multi-phase interactions on hierarchically structured surfaces. Laser-induced structures create micro-nanoscale porosity that traps air pockets, establishing Cassie-Baxter superhydrophobicity through deliberate surface architecture design. Strategic silicone oil infiltration introduces a mobile lubricant phase occupying structural voids while preserving critical air pockets, creating redundant repellency mechanisms that synergistically combine superhydrophobic and lubricant-infused surface functionalities. Upon mechanical damage disrupting the nanostructure, capillary-driven lubricant migration spontaneously establishes localized LIS states, preventing catastrophic Wenzel transitions and maintaining robust repellency. This integration addresses fundamental limitations of both parent technologies: mechanical fragility of superhydrophobic surfaces and lubricant depletion in LIS systems.

Beyond passive robustness, heterogeneous patterning enables dynamic programmable wetting where spatially varying oil infiltration generates friction gradients that drive directional droplet transport under vibrational activatio. Liquid electrowetting on structured surfaces exploits non-uniform electric field-induced polarization forces for ultra-low-voltage, high-speed droplet manipulation. These advances reveal new possibilities for active wetting control on complex topographies.

Keywords: Wetting, Lubricant-Infused Surface, Superhydrophilic Surface