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The rapid removal of rain droplets at the leaf apex is critical for leaves to avoid damage under rainfall conditions. We demonstrate in PNAS that the apex structure enhances water drainage on the leaf by employing a curvature-controlled mechanism that is based on shaping a balance between reduced capillarity and enhanced gravity components. The leaf apex shape changes from round to triangle to acuminate, and the leaf surface changes from flat to bent, resulting in the increase of the water drainage rate, high-dripping frequencies, and the reduction of retention volumes. For wet tropical plants, such as Alocasia macrorrhiza, Gaussian curvature reconfiguration at the drip tip leads to the capillarity transition from resistance to actuation, further enhancing water drainage to the largest degree possible.

The rapid removal of rain droplets at the leaf apex is critical for leaves to avoid damage under rainfall conditions. We demonstrate in PNAS that the apex structure enhances water drainage on the leaf by employing a curvature-controlled mechanism that is based on shaping a balance between reduced capillarity and enhanced gravity components. The leaf apex shape changes from round to triangle to acuminate, and the leaf surface changes from flat to bent, resulting in the increase of the water drainage rate, high-dripping frequencies, and the reduction of retention volumes. For wet tropical plants, such as Alocasia macrorrhiza, Gaussian curvature reconfiguration at the drip tip leads to the capillarity transition from resistance to actuation, further enhancing water drainage to the largest degree possible.

We fabricated a peristome‐mimicking surface through high‐resolution stereo‐lithography and demonstrated the detailed uni‐directional transportation mechanism from a micro‐scaled view visualized through X‐ray microscopy. An overflow‐controlled liquid uni‐directional transportation mechanism is proposed and demonstrated. Liquids with varied surface tensions and viscosities can spontaneously propagate in a single preferred direction and pin in all others. Web PDF

Bioinspired Surface with Superwettability for Controllable Liquid Dynamics

Liquid dynamics on a solid surface, i.e., the impact, flow, or overflow, are ubiquitous in nature and cause multifaceted problems that affect daily life. Recent studies on the role of surface superwettability in controlling liquid dynamics have attracted much attention. The role of particular surface morphologies and surface chemical compositions in manipulating the liquid impact or transport dynamics has garnered diverse scientific interests and has encouraged the widespread use of surface wettabilities in practical applications. Herein, the recent progress according to the interaction method between the liquid and solid is classified and summarized. The crucial influence of surface wettabilities and structures on liquid dynamic behaviors and a critical survey of the mechanism behind these behaviors, along with emerging applications, challenges, and perspectives, are presented.



CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Sciences,

Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences,

No. 29 Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China

Do not hesitate to contact me to discuss a possible project or learn more about my work.

Just send an email to dongzhichao@iccas.ac.cn.

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