| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Type: | Article |
| Authors: | Yongjun Chen and Kenichi Yoshikawa |
| Journal: | European Physical Journal E |
| Volume: | 34 |
| Number: | 4 |
| Month: | 4 |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Actual year: | 2011 |
| Pages: | 38-6 |
| doi: | 10.1140/epje/i2011-11038-3 |
| Abstract: | In this article, we describe the instability of a contact line under nonequilibrium conditions mainly based on the results of our recent studies. Two experimental examples are presented: the self-propelled motion of a liquid droplet and spontaneous dynamic pattern formation. For the self-propelled motion of a droplet, we introduce an experiment in which a droplet of aniline sitting on an aqueous layer moves spontaneously at an air-water interface. The spontaneous symmetry breaking of Marangoni-driven spreading causes regular motion. In a circular Petri dish, the droplet exhibits either beeline motion or circular motion. On the other hand, we show the emergence of a dynamic labyrinthine pattern caused by dewetting of a metastable thin film from the air-water interface. The contact line between the organic phase and the aqueous phase forms a unique spatio-temporal pattern characterized as a dynamic labyrinth. Motion of the contact line is controlled by diffusion processes. We propose a theoretical model to interpret essential aspects of the observed dynamic behavior. |
Yongjun Chen and Kenichi Yoshikawa, European Physical Journal E, 34, 38-6 (2011)