Abstract
Microscale interactions with deformable substrates are of fundamental interest for studying self-assembly processes and the mobility of cells on soft surfaces, with applications in traction force microscopy. The behavior of microscale water droplets on a soft polymer substrate is investigated. Droplets formed by condensation on the soft substrate are reluctant to coalesce, which leads to coverage of the surface with clusters of droplets assembled in a honeycomb-like pattern. Cryogenically fixed in this state, scanning electron microscopy of these droplets reveals the presence of an intervening wetting ridge of the polymer that acts as a barrier between neighboring droplets and prevents coalescence. A linear elastic deformation model is developed to predict this surface profile and corroborate the observed behavior.
Date of this Version
2020
DOI
10.1002/admi.202000731
Published in:
1. R. Roy, R.L. Seiler, J.A. Weibel, and S.V. Garimella, “Droplets on Soft Surfaces Exhibit a Reluctance to Coalesce due to an Intervening Wetting Ridge,” Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2000731, 2020.