Reversible wetting-dewetting transitions on electrically tunable superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces

Abstract

In this work, electrically controlled fully reversible wetting-dewetting transitions on superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces have been demonstrated. Droplet behavior can be reversibly switched between the superhydrophobic Cassie-Baxter state and the hydrophilic Wenzel state by the application of electrical voltage and current. The nature of the reversibility mechanism was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The reported results can provide a new method of dynamically controlling liquid-solid interactions.