jp0c10285_si_007.mp4 (15.68 MB)
Charge Density Gradient Propelled Ultrafast Sweeping Removal of Dropwise Condensates
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posted on 2021-02-11, 16:34 authored by Chenglin Zhang, Dehui Wang, Jinlong Yang, Wenluan Zhang, Qiangqiang Sun, Fanfei Yu, Yue Fan, Yong Li, Longquan Chen, Xu DengContinuous sweeping of dropwise condensates
is an effective form
of vapor to liquid transition in terms of thermal transport at a solid/liquid
interface. However, using conventional approaches, it is difficult to simultaneously
achieve small activating size and fast departure of condensed droplets
with high efficiency, due to the insufficient driving force compared
to adhesion. Here, we propose an unexplored method to stimulate a
frequent sweeping removal of dropwise condensates at ultrahigh efficiency
on a superhydrophobic substrate, aided by a charge density gradient
(CDG). We show that the CDG can be injected inside a superhydrophobic
substrate on which the condensate droplet with jump-induced charges
starts to sweep at a small size down to the microscale followed by
quick snowball-like growing and chase-like propelling. The incorporation
of the CDG on a superhydrophobic substrate enables a continuous, fast,
frequent, long-range, and gravity-independent droplet removal during
condensation, making this strategy a promising solution for diverse
applications in water harvesting, antifogging, and anti-icing.