Bulk-cusp microstructure for controllable multi-directional liquid spreading.

ABSTRACT: Controllable wetting of liquid on solid surface is meaningful for advanced science and engineering. Current researches about controllable liquid spreading are generally limited to unidirectional modes, while achieving multi-directional spreading on microstructured surfaces remains challenging. Herein, we propose a novel type of bulk-cusp microstructure, exhibiting 0 to 4-directional spreading of droplet without external energy input. This behavior occurs not only under single-drop deposition but also under continuous liquid injection. The bulk structure is assumed to have cross or square shape, implying relatively high and low coverage ratio of the precursor film, respectively. Owing to the drag effect of the precursor film, the cross-cusp microstructure facilitates controllable spreading

SUBMITTER: Dai S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12913607 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature