Role of kinks in the dynamics of contact lines receding on superhydrophobic surfaces

Anaïs Gauthier (1) , Marco Rivetti (1) , Jérémie Teisseire (1) , Etienne Barthel (1)

1 SVI - Surface du Verre et Interfaces

We have investigated the depinning of the contact line on superhydrophobic surfaces with anisotropic periodic textures. By direct observation of the contact line conformation, we show that the mobility is mediated by kink defects. Full 3D simulations of the shape of the liquid surface near the solid confirm that kinks account for the measured wetting properties. This behavior, which is similar to the Peierls-Nabarro mechanism for dislocations, may open perspectives for the optimization of wetting hysteresis by design.

Domaines: Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]

Anaïs Gauthier, Marco Rivetti, Jérémie Teisseire, Etienne Barthel. Role of kinks in the dynamics of contact lines receding on superhydrophobic surfaces. Physical Review Letters, 2013, 110, pp.046101. ⟨hal-00771656⟩