Investigation of the electric field driven self-propelled motion of water droplets on a super-hydrophobic surface

Super-hydrophobic coatings have recently drawn considerable attention in research and applications towards self-cleaning materials. This paper presents experiments and analysis of water droplet behaviors on glass, silicone rubber, and super-hydrophobic surface in an ac electric field applied parallel to the surface. Experimental results show that a water droplet tends to move on a super-hydrophobic surface while it tends to stretch or deform on glass and silicone rubber surfaces. A physical model of the water droplet deformation and motion mechanism is presented. An electrostatic force acting as the domain driving force plays a key role in water droplet motion on super-hydrophobic surface. The electrostatic stress acting along the external profile of a water droplet cross section was simulated using a surface integral of the Maxwell stress tensor. The simulation for surfaces with different wetting properties are in good agreement with the experimental results. Super-hydrophobic coating demonstrates a prospective electric field enhanced self-cleaning property.