Multifunctional droplet‐surface interaction effected by bulk properties
Xin Tang
Abstract
Abstract Droplet‐surface systems are an area of great scientific and technological interest as they widely present in diverse domestic and industrial applications. To modulate the biphasic interaction, intensive efforts have been lavished on interfacial engineering wherein chemical functionalization, physical texturing, and mediating third‐phase introduction are the norm. The surface methods alone are not panacea for many pressing challenges, particularly regarding extreme temperature adaptation, leading some to explore bulk alternatives. Given full play to bulk properties, including optical, electric, mechanical, and thermal types, rich and disparate biphasic systems with superior performances are shown. It is important to understand the nature and similarity of bulk methods in all distinct contexts to identify their strengths and limitations. An existing need remains to summarise and classify the key quantity, design, and mechanism of those budding methods, which may assist the future discovery of solutions to diverse unanswered challenges.