Abstract
Gravity-driven drainage of small volumes of condensates, such as natural dew, is a challenge because small drops usually remain pinned to inclined surfaces. We report that submillimetric grooves substantially reduce dew retention by modifying the repartition of liquid: Because of a long-range coalescence mechanism mediated by grooves imbibition, the growth and shedding of large drops are accelerated. Such findings can be applied to increase the passive harvesting of dew as well as to accelerate the drainage of other condensates.
- Received 15 July 2018
- Revised 12 November 2018
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.098005
© 2019 American Physical Society
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Video—A Groovy Way to Harvest Dew
Published 8 March 2019
Dew condensing on an inclined, grooved surface rapidly forms large drops that roll quickly to the bottom for collection.
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