Surface Acoustic Waves to Control Droplet Impact onto Superhydrophobic and Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces

Superhydrophobic coatings and slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) have shown their potentials in self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-erosion, antibiofouling applications. Various studies been done on controlling the droplet impact such using passive methods as modifying lubricant layer thickness SLIPS. Despite effectiveness, lack on-demand control over dynamics of droplets. This paper introduces a new method to actively onto superhydrophobic SLIPS surface acoustic waves (SAWs). In this study, we designed fabricated ZnO/aluminum thin-film SAW devices investigated different scenarios compared those similar superhydrophobic-coated surfaces. Our results showed that SAWs insignificant influences without an infused oil layer. However, after infusion with oil, energy could be effectively transferred droplet, thus its surface. Results by applying SAWs, spreading retraction behaviors droplets are altered surface, leading change regime from deposition complete rebound rebounding angles. Moreover, contact time was reduced up 30% when optimum ∼8 μm. work offers effective way technology along reduce alter