Bubbles nucleating on superhydrophobic micropillar arrays under flow

Bat El Pinchasik*, Friedhelm Schönfeld, Michael Kappl, Hans Jürgen Butt

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

When a supersaturated aqueous solution flows over a microstructured, hydrophobic surface, bubbles tend to nucleate. Here, we control heterogeneous nucleation of gas bubbles from supersaturated CO2 solution. By designing the shape, size, and arrangement of hydrophobic micropillars and by adjusting the flow we obtain uniform nucleation patterns. It is possible to selectively turn nucleation on and off. We use laser scanning confocal microscopy to resolve nucleation in early stages at the micropillar-substrate intersection. Numerical simulations show a correlation between minute pressure drops behind micropillars and nucleation sites. Bubbles nucleate uniformly behind pillars of the same size. The flow profile further contributes to the uniform growth of the bubbles. We control heterogeneous nucleation by varying micropillar geometry or size, flow direction and rate. While nucleation behind square pillars is independent of the flow direction, nucleation behind round micropillars is coupled with the direction. Nucleation behind triangular micropillars is bifurcated. These observations pave the way for the replenishment of the gas layer entrapped in between hydrophobic surface features, needed for superhydrophobicity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8175-8183
Number of pages9
JournalSoft Matter
Volume15
Issue number40
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Funding

FundersFunder number
Seventh Framework Programme340391
Seventh Framework Programme
European Research Council
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft388761298
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

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