Wetting?Empowered Surface Functions for Engineering Applications

One of the main characteristics a surface is its ability to be wetted by liquid. Surfaces can explicitly designed for full or poor wetting different liquid types easy sliding sticking droplets. The design functional surfaces crosses multiple length-scales and includes chemical functionalization, micro/nano-engineered structures, chemical/physical gradients, elasticity, etc. These features form basis even more complex functionalities. Recent approaches have involved increasingly architectures techniques such as controlling droplet shape/motion on slippery liquid-infused porous (SLIPS), reducing lateral adhesion employing Leidenfrost phenomenon (article number 202001249). importance this research underpinned role in resolving global challenges, environmental crises, sustainable energy, food water production consumption. Established 2013, Smart Materials Laboratory (SMSL) Northumbria University has achieved considerable progresses areas bio-inspired surface/interface science, smart materials, microdevices systems, leading well-recognized profile scientific significance academic impact worldwide. origin special issue based discussions among Prof. Butt, Xu, Dr. Li, Smith, starting at Droplets 2019 conference, which was co-organised SMSL. At last, we hope collection papers provides an interesting benchmark wetting-empowered technological developments toward discovery frontier engineering applications. We appreciate support from whole editorial team Advanced Interfaces reviewers. would like gratefully acknowledge contributions all authors their co-authors issue, unprecedent time. Ben B. Xu Professor Mechanics Director Research Knowledge Exchange Department Mechanical Construction Engineering University, UK. obtained his Ph.D. (2011) Heriot-Watt Edinburgh, then moved Massachusetts, Amherst (US), work (2011–2013) with Ryan C. Hayward postdoc. Since joining established multidisciplinary diverse interests responsive materials/surface, soft matter, materials chemistry, mechanics, energy technology, micro-engineering. Yifan Li appointed Senior Lecturer (UK) 2014, having been Fellow School Engineering, Edinburgh where he also gained degree 2008. He studied B.Eng. Electronics Electrical Shanghai Jiao Tong Shanghai, China 2003. Yifan's are microfluidics, microsystems, flexible electronics transducers. Hans-Jürgen Butt director Max Planck Institute Polymer (MPIP), Mainz, Germany. physics Hamburg Göttingen. defended thesis 1989 Biophysics (MPIBP). After one-year postdoc experience California, back MPIBP habilitated 1995. In 1996, became associate professor Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz. 2000, Siegen Physical Chemistry. 2002, joined MPIP working matter interfaces.