Optimization of bioinspired surfaces with enhanced water transportation capacity

Spontaneous and directional pumpless transportation (SDPT) of water on engineering surfaces that mimics the dorsal integument of Phrynosoma cornutum has promising applications in water harvesting platforms, heat transfer equipment, etc., yet is limited owing to the expensive processing techniques, complicated preparing processes, and poor transportation capacities. Herein, a facile approach is developed to fabricate the patterned super-wettability surfaces with superhydrophilic serial-wedge-shaped channels embedded in superhydrophobic panels. The SDPT of water actuated by a Laplace pressure difference can be achieved conveniently on the serial-wedge-shaped channels. Furthermore, the transportation capacities of the channels with different configuration parameters are explored by numerical simulation and experimental verification simultaneously in this study. In addition, by taking advantage of an optimization strategy, the optimized channels with the improved configurations are developed, which can not only enhance the scale of configuration parameters engendering the continuous SDPT but can also enhance the transportation velocity of water. The present study will provide important insights into the design of next-generation high-performance fluid transportation systems.