Splitting of a droplet on a wettability-confined track driven by thermal marangoni effect

We investigate the dynamics of droplet splitting driven by the thermal Marangoni effect on a wettability-confined track based on the lubrication approximation. The results demonstrate that the restriction of the hydrophobic region and the driving of the eccentric heating prompt a droplet to split asymmetrically, and the complete splitting time under the eccentric heating is shortened compared to the concentric heating. Additionally, the time required for droplet splitting decreases with an increase in temperature gradient α and eccentric distance δ, while exhibiting an initial decrease and then an increase in variation with track width E, and the mass ratio M presents a positive correlation with α, δ, and E.