Liquid mobility on superwettable surfaces for applications in energy and the environment

Abstract

Liquid mobility on super-wettable materials is of interest for enhanced heat transfer, self-cleaning, anti-fouling, anti-icing, water-harvesting, and oil–water separation. Here, we review different mechanisms related to liquid mobility on super-wettable materials, encompassing some classical wetting theories and liquid transport behaviors observed on biological surfaces with special textures. Then, the different categories of liquid behaviors on super-wettability materials are summarized, focusing on recent progress on vertical motion (droplet self-propelling and bouncing), horizontal transportation (transportation on one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) materials), and interfacial penetration (oil–water penetration and water penetration). Along these lines, we also review the latest applications in energy and the environment, followed by presenting the outlook and key challenges.