USE OF SUPERHYDROPHOBIC SURFACES FOR REDUCING FLOW RESISTANCE IN MICROFLUIDIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Inspired by the water repellent roughness structure of the lotus leaf, superhydrophobic surfaces have been proposed for reducing the flow resistance through micro- and nanofluidic devices.

For laminar flow through microchannels and microtubes containing superhydrophobic surfaces with alternative longitudinal and transverse grooves and ribs, the effects of liquid-gas interface deformation on the effective slip behavior have been quantified analytically and numerically.

Using direct numerical simulations (DNS), the reduction in flow resistance on the geometric configuration for microchannel turbulent flow over superhydrophobic surfaces patterned with transverse or longitudinal ribs and grooves at a friction Reynolds number of 180 have been explored.

It is from these investigations and findings that the hydrodynamic characteristics and transport processes are better understood for microfluidics and nanofluidics community working on superhydrophobic surfaces.