Motion of droplets into hydrophobic parallel plates

Due to the superior operability and good anti-interference, the prospect of controlling microdroplets using a parallel plate structure (PPS) is very promising. However, in practical applications, droplets in such structures are often affected by various factors, resulting in deformation, evaporation, stress rupture and other phenomena, leading to equipment failure. Therefore, how to simply and effectively transfer liquid droplets to PPS to maintain the stable and efficient operation of the system has become an urgent problem to be solved. In this paper, a simple and effective ratchet-like strategy (relaxing and squeezing actions) is introduced to transfer droplets. To analyze the mechanism of the strategy and optimize the control, we conduct this study from three aspects. First, the droplet movement trend is obtained by analyzing the pressure between SPS and PPS. Second, the reasons why the droplet can achieve this inward motion are investigated. Through theoretical analysis, which is also proven by simulations and experiments, we creatively put forward that the asymmetric change of the contact angle (CA) induced by the asymmetric structure is the fundamental cause of this kind of motion. Due to the asymmetric change of the contact angle, the CA in the PPS will reach the advancing angle first in the squeezing process, and the CA in the SPS will reach the receding angle first in the relaxing process, thus causing the inward movement of the droplet. Third, to optimize this strategy, the effects of the following governing parameters are researched individually based on the corresponding simulations and experiments: the control parameters (the initial gap width of the PPS H(0) and the amount of squeezing and relaxing of ΔH) and the thickness of the top plate. Subsequently, an optimized ratchet-like cycle is achieved. In summary, these findings not only provide a new method by which to realize the movement of droplets toward hydrophobic PPSs but also creatively point out the cause of the ratchet strategy, which can be applied in many microfluidics fields.