Condensation droplet sieve

Large droplets emerging during dropwise condensation impair surface properties such as anti-fogging/frosting ability and heat transfer efficiency. How to spontaneously detach massive randomly distributed droplets with controlled sizes has remained a challenge. Herein, we present a solution called condensation droplet sieve, through fabricating microscale thin-walled lattice structures coated with a superhydrophobic layer. Growing droplets were observed to jump off this surface once becoming slightly larger than the lattices. The maximum radius and residual volume of droplets were strictly confined to 16 mu m and 3.2 nl/mm(2) respectively. We reveal that this droplet radius cut off is attributed to the large tolerance of coalescence mismatch for jumping and effective isolation of droplets between neighboring lattices. Our work brings forth a strategy for the design and fabrication of high-performance anti-dew materials.

Automated summary

In this study, a technique called condensation droplet sieve is developed to control the size and distribution of large droplets. By fabricating special lattice structures, the growing droplets can detach automatically once they reach a certain size, thus improving the anti-fogging and heat transfer properties of the material.