Usually, electrowetting on superhydrophobic surfaces (EWOSS) is generated by application of an alternating current signal and often leads to droplet impalement into the structuration. To avoid this phenomenon, superhydrophobic surfaces must show robustness to high pressure. Otherwise, an external energy has to be applied to dewet the droplet from the structuration. We present, in this article, an original approach to actuate liquid droplets via a modulated EWOSS signal (MEWOSS). This technique allows the dewetting of the droplet due to periodic vibrations induced by the electrowetting actuation. In that case, it is possible to investigate a larger range of superhydrophobic surfaces under EWOSS without droplet impalement. Three different superhydrophobic surfaces, showing different degrees of impalement under EWOSS, are investigated and compared using this MEWOSS technique.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Engineering
Research Group:	Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering
Research Field:	Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Manufacturing
Objective Group:	Instrumentation
Objective Field:	Scientific instruments
UTAS Author:	Lapierre, FG (Dr Florian Lapierre)
ID Code:	99984
Year Published:	2013
Web of Science® Times Cited:	31
Deposited By:	Austn Centre for Research in Separation Science
Deposited On:	2015-04-22
Last Modified:	2017-11-03
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