Nucleation and growth on a superhydrophobic grooved surface.

The growth dynamics of water drops condensed on a superhydrophobic geometrically patterned surface were studied. Drop size evolution at early and intermediate times is self-similar. Drop growth laws do not differ for a flat surface because of a reduction of both drop and substrate dimensionality. A striking observation is the instantaneous drying of the top surface of grooves at a point in time due to coalescence of the drops with a completely filled channel. At late times, only a few large drops grow connected to the channels, in a mixed Wenzel-penetration regime.