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Title: Is an electric field always a promoter of wetting? Electro-dewetting of metals by electrolytes probed by in situ X-ray nanotomography

Journal Article · · Faraday Discussions
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C6FD00239K · OSTI ID:1436249
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Clemson Univ., SC (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
  2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Photon Sciences Directorate

We developed a special electrochemical cell enabling quantitative analysis andin situX-ray nanotomography of metal/electrolyte interfaces subject to corrosion. Using this cell and applying the nodoid model to describe menisci formed on tungsten wires during anodization, the evolution of the electrolyte surface tension, the concentration of reaction products, and the meniscus contact angle were studied. In contrast to the electrowetting effect, where the applied electric field decreases the contact angle of electrolytes, anodization of the tungsten wires increases the contact angle of the meniscus. Hence, an electric field favors dewetting rather than wetting of the newly formed surface. Finally, the discovered effect opens up new opportunities for the control of wetting phenomena and calls for the revision of existing theories of electrowetting.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-98CH10886; SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1436249
Report Number(s):
BNL--203471-2018-JAAM
Journal Information:
Faraday Discussions, Journal Name: Faraday Discussions Vol. 199; ISSN 1359-6640; ISSN FDISE6
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Adsorption of alkylbenzene sulfonate (A.B.S.) surfactants at the alumina-water interface journal November 1971
Ionic-surfactant-mediated electro-dewetting for digital microfluidics journal August 2019

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