Superfast Liquid Transfer Strategy Through Sliding on a Liquid Membrane Inspired from Scorpion Setae

Although diversified biological structures have evolved fog collection abilities, the typical speeds of the condensed water droplets on these surfaces are too slow to have practical utility. The main challenge focuses on the elimination of the interfacial hydrodynamic resistance without external energy support. Here, an unusual strategy for superfast self-support transfer condensed droplets is supported by sliding on seta of desert scorpion. It can be rapidly wetted by the fog droplets owing to its conical shape with linear gradient channels. A loss of interfacial resistance by this hydrodynamically lubricating water membrane could significantly accelerate the movement of the droplets, thus making its velocity increasing by one order of magnitude, or even more. Inspired by this novel strategy, the novel bioinspired materials are fabricated with the similar gradient channel structures and droplet transportation mode, which can make the condensed droplets spontaneously slide on the low-friction liquid membrane. The fundamental understanding of superfast fog capture and the sliding dynamics of condensed droplets in this system could inspire to develop novel materials or various systems to transfer liquid fast and efficiently without external energy support.