Kartik Regulagadda

Structural coloration, a color‐generation mechanism often found in nature, arises from light–matter interactions such as diffraction, interference, and scattering, with micro‐ and nanostructured elements. Herein, we systematically study anisotropic, 3D‐architected grating structures with polarization‐tunable optical properties, inspired by the vivid blue of Morpho butterfly wings. Using two‐photon lithography, we fabricate multilayered gratings, varying parameters such as height (through scanning speed and laser power), periodicity, and number of layers. In transmission, significant color transitions from blue to brown were identified when varying structural parameters and incident light polarization conditions (azimuthal angle and ellipticity). Based on thin film diffraction efficiency theory in the Raman–Nath regime, optical characterization results are analytically explained, evaluating the impact of each parameter variation. Overall, these findings contribute to technological implementations of polarization‐sensitive, 3D‐architected gratings for structural color applications.

Jumping of coalescing condensate droplets from superhydrophobic surfaces is an interesting phenomenon which yields marked heat transfer enhancement over the more explored gravity-driven droplet removal mode in surface condensation, a phase change process of central interest to applications ranging from energy to water harvesting. However, when condensate microdroplets coalesce, they can also spontaneously propel themselves omnidirectionally on the surface independent of gravity and grow by feeding from droplets they sweep along the way. Here we observe and explain the physics behind this phenomenon of roaming of coalescing condensate microdroplets on solely nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces, where the microdroplets are orders of magnitude larger than the underlaying surface nanotexture. We quantify and show that it is the inherent asymmetries in droplet adhesion during condensation, arising from the stochastic nature of nucleation within the nanostructures, that generates the tangential momentum driving the roaming motion. Subsequent dewetting during this conversion initiates a vivid roaming and successive coalescence process, preventing condensate flooding of the surface, and enhancing surface renewal. Finally, we show that the more efficient conversion process of roaming from excess surface energy to kinetic energy results in significantly improved heat transfer efficiency over condensate droplet jumping, the mechanism currently understood as maximum.

Water vapor condensation on metallic surfaces is critical to a broad range of applications, ranging from power generation to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Enhancing simultaneously the heat transfer efficiency, scalability, and durability of a condenser surface remains a persistent challenge. Coalescence-induced condensing droplet jumping is a capillarity-driven mechanism of self-ejection of microscopic condensate droplets from a surface. This mechanism is highly desired due to the fact that it continuously frees up the surface for new condensate to form directly on the surface, enhancing heat transfer without requiring the presence of the gravitational field. However, this condensate ejection mechanism typically requires the fabrication of surface nanotextures coated by an ultrathin (H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate (pPFDA) coating, which is 1 order of magnitude thinner than the current state of the art, allows the sustenance of long-term coalescence-induced condensate jumping drop condensation for at least 72 h. This yields unprecedented, up to an order of magnitude higher heat transfer coefficients compared to filmwise condensation under the same conditions and significantly outperforms the current state of the art in terms of both durability and performance establishing a new milestone.

Heat exchangers are made of metals because of their high heat conductivity and mechanical stability. Metal surfaces are inherently hydrophilic, leading to inefficient filmwise condensation. It is still a challenge to coat these metal surfaces with a durable, robust, and thin hydrophobic layer, which is required for efficient dropwise condensation. Here, we report the nonstructured and ultrathin (∼6 nm) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brushes on copper that sustain high-performing dropwise condensation in high supersaturation. Due to the flexible hydrophobic siloxane polymer chains, the coating has low resistance to drop sliding and excellent chemical stability. The PDMS brushes can sustain dropwise condensation for up to ∼8 h during exposure to 111 °C saturated steam flowing at 3 m·s^-1, with a 5-7 times higher heat transfer coefficient compared to filmwise condensation. The surface is self-cleaning and can reduce the level of bacterial attachment by 99%. This low-cost, facile, fluorine-free, and scalable method is suitable for a great variety of heat transfer applications.

Using confocal traction force microscopy, we investigate the ice adhesion on soft elastomeric materials at unprecedented microscopic detail during the ice removal at different ice removal rates.

A liquid droplet dispensed over a sufficiently hot surface does not make contact but instead hovers on a cushion of its own self-generated vapor. Since its discovery in 1756, this so-called Leidenfrost effect has been intensively studied. Here we report a remarkable self-propulsion mechanism of Leidenfrost droplets against gravity, that we term Leidenfrost droplet trampolining. Leidenfrost droplets gently deposited on fully rigid surfaces experience self-induced spontaneous oscillations and start to gradually bounce from an initial resting altitude to increasing heights, thereby violating the traditionally accepted Leidenfrost equilibrium. We found that the continuously draining vapor cushion initiates and fuels Leidenfrost trampolining by inducing ripples on the droplet bottom surface, which translate into pressure oscillations and induce self-sustained periodic vertical droplet bouncing over a broad range of experimental conditions.

A water drop impacting a superhydrophobic surface (SHS) rebounds completely with remarkable elasticity. For a given drop size, the time of contact on a flat SHS remains constant. However, recent studies show that the contact time can be reduced further by triggering an asymmetry in the hydrodynamics of impact. This can be achieved in different ways; an example being the impact on a cylindrical SHS with a curvature comparable to the drop. Here, the anisotropic flow generated from the tangential momentum and elliptical footprint of the drop before the crash leads to the formation of lobes. In the present work, we perform drop impact experiments on a bathtub-like SHS and show that the radial anisotropy can be triggered even in the absence of both the tangential momentum and non-circular footprint. This is shown to be a consequence of lamella deflection during the drop spreading. The reduction in contact time is quite clearly evident in this experimental regime.

Drop-surface interaction is predominant in nature as well as in many industrial applications. Superhydrophobic surfaces show potential for various applications as they show complete drop rebound. In a recent work, it has been reported that the drop lift-off time on a superhydrophobic substrate could be further reduced by introducing a macro-ridge. The macro-ridge introduces asymmetry on the morphology of drop spreading and retraction on the surface. This changes the hydrodynamics of drop retraction and reduces the lift-off time. Keeping practical applications in view, we decorate the surface with multiple ridges. The morphology of the hydrodynamic asymmetry is completely different for the drops impacting onto the tip of the ridges from those impacting onto the middle of the valley between the ridges. We show that the morphology forms the key to the lift-off time. We also show that the outward flow from the ridge triggers a Laplace pressure driven de-wetting on the tip of the ridge, thus aiding the lift-off time. At the end of this work, we propose a ridge to ridge separation that effectively reduces the lift-off times for impacts both at the tip of the ridge and offset from it.