Effects of the surface wettability of nanoparticles on the impact dynamics of droplets

Herein, we report an experimental investigation on droplet impact dynamics with a particular interest in the effects of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of particles on the impact dynamics. Remarkable contact line pinning and receding breakup were observed when hydrophobic particles were present in the droplets, while hydrophilic particles showed little effect on the dynamics. Furthermore, the maximum retraction height and vertical oscillatory relaxation time for the droplet were restrained by hydrophobic particles. Scanning electron microscopy and rheological analyses revealed that these phenomena may be related to the adsorption and deposition of hydrophobic particles near the three-phase contact line, which leads to an increase in local viscosity and friction near the edge of the drop. In addition, the contact line pinning is positively associated with the Weber number and particle concentration. Our work provides a novel approach for droplet impact dynamics control, particularly for suppressing the oscillation and contraction of droplets.