Unraveling the Mystery: Physicists Demystify Force on Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Physicists have identified and explained a previously unknown force that causes drag on water droplets moving across superhydrophobic surfaces, such as black silicon. This force, known as the shearing effect, arises from the movement of droplets on highly slippery surfaces and creates a drag-like force on the droplet itself. By developing a unique micropipette force sensor technology, researchers were able to measure these tiny forces and propose a solution for eliminating the drag force altogether, which could lead to the development of better superhydrophobic surfaces with improved performance.