Experimental Studies of Liquid Droplet Coalescence on the Gradient Surface

Visual experiments were conducted to study the behaviors of liquid droplet coalescence on the surface with gradient surface energy. The microscopic contour of the gradient energy surface, which was fabricated on the base of a silicon chip by diffusion-controlled silanization of alkyltrichlorosilanes, was characterized by atom force microscopy. The effects of droplets on the three-phase contact line and the contact angle were obtained. It was observed that the process of droplet coalescence accelerates the droplet speed on the gradient surface. On the high-energy surface, the triple-phase contact line of the coalescing droplet is prone to pinning. The interfacial energy released from coalescence is the main source for promoting the motion. Furthermore, the nonequilibrium capillary pressure gradient inside coalescence droplets is considered to aid in accelerating the coalescence.