Droplet control technology has broad application prospects and the wettability-patterned surface is a popular way to realize it. However, as an aided means of experiment, simulation is seldom found in the relevant researches. In this paper, a wettability-patterned surface with radial tree-shape pattern is designed firstly and the droplet motions at different positions on it are simulated according to the model settings proposed. Subsequently, four new wedge-shaped derivative patterns, that is mesh pattern, unidirectional tree-shape pattern, radial arc-shape pattern, and dragon pattern, are designed to investigate the droplet motions on the wettability-patterned surfaces with different paths. Finally, a novel vapor chamber model with mesh patterned condenser and radial tree-shape patterned evaporator is developed as an application expansion of the two-dimensional (2D) patterns for special 3D droplet control scenario, and the working medium droplet motions in it are investigated similarly. The simulation result indicates that the conceptual vapor chamber model developed in this paper is feasible, which can leave out the wicks and accelerate the working medium circulation.
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1 September 2025
Research Article|
May 30 2025
Design and droplet motion simulation of wettability-patterned surface for droplet control Available to Purchase
Yuanqiang Luo;
Yuanqiang Luo
College of Engineering,
South China Agricultural University
, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
; School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Junlin Li;
Junlin Li
College of Engineering,
South China Agricultural University
, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Song He;
Song He
College of Engineering,
South China Agricultural University
, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Ye Zhang;
College of Engineering,
South China Agricultural University
, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
Corresponding author Ye Zhang (zhangye@scau.edu.cn)
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Zhen Liang;
Zhen Liang
School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering,
South China University of Technology
, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Yugang He
Yugang He
School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering,
South China University of Technology
, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Corresponding author Ye Zhang (zhangye@scau.edu.cn)
Conflict of interest The authors have no conflicts to disclose.
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Received:
December 22 2024
Accepted:
April 23 2025
Online ISSN: 2050-6260
Print ISSN: 2050-6252
Funding
Funding Group:
- Award Group:
- Funder(s): National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Award Id(s): 52005188
- Funder(s):
- Funding Statement(s): The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52005188).
© 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited
2025
Emerald Publishing Limited
Licensed re-use rights only
Surface Innovations (2025) 13 (5-6): 315–325.
Article history
Received:
December 22 2024
Accepted:
April 23 2025
Citation
Luo Y, Li J, He S, Zhang Y, Liang Z, He Y (2025), "Design and droplet motion simulation of wettability-patterned surface for droplet control". Surface Innovations, Vol. 13 No. 5-6 pp. 315–325, doi: https://doi.org/10.1680/jsuin.24.00117
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