Leidenfrost droplet trampolining


Date

2021-03-19

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

Altmetric

Data

Abstract

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.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

12 (1)

Pages / Article No.

1727

Publisher

Nature

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

Organisational unit

03462 - Poulikakos, Dimos (emeritus) / Poulikakos, Dimos (emeritus) check_circle

Notes

Funding

669908 - Pathways to Intrinsically Icephobic Surfaces (EC)

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