Rolling Out The Oil

Chemistry and microstructure together repel organic liquids

By Carmen Drahl

Department: Science & Technology

REBOUND

A droplet of hexadecane bounces on a surface etched with nanoscale pillars and troughs. Water, a liquid with high surface tension, has been captured bouncing in this way countless times before, but a low-surface-tension liquid such as hexadecane had never been before.

Credit: Video courtesy of Anish Tuteja/Wonjae Choi

Scanning electron microscope image showing oil-repellent microfibers.

Credit: Courtesy of Anish Tuteja/Wonjae Choi

Scanning electron microscope image showing oil-repellent microfibers.

Credit: Courtesy of Anish Tuteja/Wonjae Choi

An oil-repellent microfiber cloak applied to a lotus leaf lets droplets of hexadecane colored with a red dye bead up.

Credit: Courtesy of Anish Tuteja/Wonjae Choi

An oil-repellent microfiber cloak applied to a lotus leaf lets droplets of hexadecane colored with a red dye bead up.

Credit: Courtesy of Anish Tuteja/Wonjae Choi