Free-energy barrier of filling a spherical cavity in the presence of line tension: Implication to the energy barrier between the Cassie and Wenzel state on a superhydrophobic surface with spherical cavities

Abstract

The free-energy barrier of filling a spherical cavity having an inner wall of various wettabiities is studied. The morphology and free energy of a lens-shaped droplet are determined from the minimum of the free energy. The effect of line tension on the free energy is also studied. Then, the equilibrium contact angle of the droplet is determined from the generalized Young's equation. By increasing the droplet volume within the spherical cavity, the droplet morphology changes from spherical with an equilibrium contact angle of $180^{\circ}$ to a lens with a convex meniscus, where the morphological complete drying transition occurs. By further increasing the droplet volume, the meniscus changes from convex to concave. Then, the lens-shaped droplet with concave meniscus spreads over the whole inner wall resulting in an equilibrium contact angle of $0^{\circ}$ to leave a spherical bubble, where the morphological complete wetting transition occurs. Finally, the whole cavity is filled with liquid. The free energy shows a barrier from complete drying to complete wetting as a function of droplet volume, which corresponds to the energy barrier between the Cassie and Wenzel state of the superhydrophobic surface with spherical cavities. The free-energy maximum occurs when the meniscus of the droplet becomes flat and it is given by an analytic formula. The effect of line tension is expressed by the scaled line tension, and this effect is largest at the free-energy maximum. The positive line tension increases the free-energy maximum, which thus, increases the stability of the Cassie superhydrophobic state, whereas the negative line tension destabilizes the superhydrophobic state.