Superhydrophobic “Pump”: Continuous and Spontaneous Antigravity Water Delivery |
| |
| Authors: | Moyuan Cao Kan Li Zhichao Dong Cunming Yu Shuai Yang Cheng Song Kesong Liu Lei Jiang |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Bio‐inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, P. R. China;2. Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China;3. Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China |
| |
| Abstract: | Antigravity transportation of water, which is often observed in nature, is becoming a vital demand for advanced devices and new technology. Many studies have been devoted to the motion of a single droplet on a horizontal or inclined substrate under specific assistance. However, the self‐propelled water motion, especially continuous antigravity water delivery, still remains a considerable challenge. Here, a novel self‐ascending phenomenon driven only by the surface energy release of water droplets is found, and a superhydrophobic mesh to pump water up to a height of centimeter scale is designed. An integrated antigravity transportation system is also demonstrated to continuously and spontaneously pump water droplets without additional driving forces. The present novel finding and integrated devices should serve as a source of inspiration for the design of advanced materials and for the development of new technology with exciting applications in microfluidics, microdetectors, and intelligent systems. |
| |
| Keywords: | antigravity delivery droplet manipulation Laplace pressure superhydrophobic “ pump” surface energy |
|
|
