Toward the hydrophobic state transition by the appropriate vibration of substrate

¹ College of Mathematics, Physics and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University - Jinhua 321004, PRC
² Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Kowloon, Hong Kong

^a kjl@zjnu.cn
^b zjlhjun@zjnu.cn
^c wfm@zjnu.cn
^d tcfanjt@inet.polyu.edu.hk

Received: 8 July 2011
Accepted: 19 October 2011

Abstract

On the basis of molecular-dynamics simulations, we demonstrate the transition from hydrophobic to super-hydrophobic or hydrophilic to hydrophobic by substrate vibration. The wetting degree can be modulated by the substrate vibration period and substrate vibration amplitude. A phase diagram emerging out of the vibration amplitude threshold from the simulations and can offer a quantitative guideline toward a feasible and robust physical approach to applications. Furthermore, we show that the wettability of a graphene surface can be controlled by tuning its surface energy via an external field. Our work demonstrates that vibration is a promising method to apply in practice.