Liquid marbles and drops on superhydrophobic surfaces: interfacial aspects and dynamics of formation: a review

Abstract

Liquid marbles (LMs) are droplets encapsulated with powders presenting varied roughness and wettability. These LMs have garnered a lot of attention due to their dual properties of leakage-free and quick transport on both solid and liquid surfaces. These droplets are in a Cassie–Baxter wetting state sitting on both roughness and air pockets existing between particles. They are also reminiscent of the state of a drop on a superhydrophobic (SH) surface. In this review, LMs and bare droplets on SH surfaces are comparatively investigated in terms of two aspects: interfacial and dynamical. LMs present a fascinating class of soft matter due to their superior interfacial activity and their remarkable stability. Inherently hydrophobic powders form stable LMs by simple rolling; however, particles with defined morphologies and chemistries contribute to the varied stability of LMs. The factors contributing to this interesting robustness with respect to bare droplets are then identified by tests of stability such as evaporation and compression. Next, the dynamics of the impact of a drop on a hydrophobic powder bed to form LMs is studied vis-à̀-vis that of drop impact on flat surfaces. The knowledge from drop impact phenomena on flat surfaces is used to build and complement insights to that of drop impact on powder surfaces. The maximum spread of the drop is empirically understood in terms of dimensionless numbers, and their drawbacks are highlighted. Various stages of drop impact─spreading, retraction and rebound, splashing, and final outcome─are systematically explored on both solid and hard surfaces. The implications of crater formation and energy dissipations are discussed in the case of granular beds. While the drop impact on solid surfaces is extensively reviewed, deep interpretation of the drop impact on granular surfaces needs to be improved. Additionally, the applications of each step in the sequence of drop impact phenomena on both substrates are also identified. Next, the criterion for the formation of peculiar jammed LMs was examined. Finally, the challenges and possible future perspectives are envisaged.