Multimode dynamics of a liquid drop over an inclined surface with a wettability gradient.

A liquid drop placed over a solid surface with a wettability gradient self-propels to minimize its surface energy. It can also climb an inclined plane if the applied gradient strength is high enough. We investigate the motion of liquid drops over an inclined gradient surface using a unique 3D computational technique. The technique combines diffuse interface in a smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulation to study the internal fluid structure and the contact line dynamics. Simulation results reveal that drop motion is dependent on its volume, surface inclination, and the strength of the wettability gradient. It has been demonstrated that, depending on these parameters, a drop can experience upward or downward motion or can remain stationary on the inclined plane. Finally, drop mobility maps which give an idea about the regimes of uphill and downhill movement of a drop over gradient surfaces have been proposed.