The ability to manipulate the manner in which a liquid is transferred from one solid surface to another is key to a broad gamut of applications ranging from high speed ink jet printing to a cat lapping milk from the floor. The process involves the formation and stretching of liquid capillary bridges between the surfaces involved and the dynamic contact angles between the liquid and these surfaces. Experiments discussed in this presentation show that liquid droplets resting on one (donor) surface can be “teleported” via a 7-12 microscecond leap to another (acceptor) surface that approaches the sessile drop. The leap occurs if the acceptor surface is extremely hydrophilic and the donor surface is adequately hydrophobic or if the donor surface is superhydrophobic – regardless of the acceptor surface wetting properties. High speed photography is used to follow the shape of the capillary bridge throughout the leap. The shape of the bridge, which is a function of both the advancing contact angle of the acceptor surface and the receding contact angle of the donor surface, governs the liquid transfer rate. As a result of this mechanism, a hydrophobic acceptor surface can remove a drop more rapidly than a hydrophilic one. The competition between the liquid receding from the donor surface, advancing on the acceptor surface and Laplace pressure on the capillary bridge control the event. Changing the viscosity (water/glycol mixtures) leads to complex variation of transfer times and implicates capillary condensation as an important issue in the process.

Teleportation of sessile drops

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.