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. 2016 Jul 27;6:30328. doi: 10.1038/srep30328

Figure 1. Surface characterization and dynamic behavior of water droplet impact on rigid and elastic superhydrophobic surfaces.

Figure 1

(a) SEM micrographs showing the macroscale roughness of the NeverWet superhydrophobic coating due to particle clustering. (b) High resolution SEM micrograph showing individual nanoparticles. Inset: water droplet on a NeverWet coated glass slide (scale bar 1 mm). The advancing and receding contact angles were 164 ± 4° and 159 ± 3°, respectively. (c) High speed images showing a low velocity droplet (v = 0.68 m/s) impacting a rigid superhydrophobic surface, and following the classical model of spreading, retraction and lift-off at the theoretical contact time tc,th = 2.6 (ρD03/8γ)1/2. (d) Droplet impact on a rigid superhydrophobic surface at higher impact speeds (v = 1.58 m/s), showing breakup and splashing. (e) Droplet impact on an elastic superhydrophobic surface at higher impact speeds (v = 1.57 m/s), showing substrate oscillation, and early lift-off of the droplet in a pancake shape at reduced contact times (tc <tc,th = 6.3 ms).