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Assessing micro- and nanoscale adhesion via liquid metal-based contact angle measurements in vacuum

  • Metals & corrosion
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Abstract

Understanding wetting phenomena is of critical importance for various fields in theoretical and applied surface sciences as well as for the functionality of micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. Contact angle measurement is one of the well-established methodologies for the wettability assessment of a surface. However, it faces major challenges when applied to micro- and nanoscale structures. Here, we exploit the superior properties of liquid metal alloys to contact angle measurement thus creating a methodology that allows for reliable examination of wetting phenomena on small-scale surface sections within the single-digit micrometer range and below. The technique applies electromigration to prepare oxide-free liquid metal droplets with diameters of less than ten micrometers in a vacuum environment, enabling a scanning electron microscope to be used for contact angle measurement. Static and dynamic contact angle measurements can be realized via the targeted manipulation of the droplets. The characterization of microscale surface sections with different nanoscale surface texture is demonstrated. Following this approach, unique characterization of wetting properties on the small scale becomes feasible. The methodology presented is therefore of significant importance for various emerging research fields such as micro- and nanorobotics as well as studies of few asperity contact mechanics on the micro- and nanoscale.

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Acknowledgements

The work leading to this publication was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under Project GZ: FA347/54-1 (LiCoPro).

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Author notes

  1. Fabian von Kleist-Retzow and Waldemar Klauser have contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division Microrobotics and Control Engineering, Department of Computing Science, University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany

    Fabian von Kleist-Retzow, Waldemar Klauser, Sören Zimmermann & Sergej Fatikow

Authors
  1. Fabian von Kleist-Retzow
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  2. Waldemar Klauser
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  3. Sören Zimmermann
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  4. Sergej Fatikow
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The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Fabian von Kleist-Retzow.

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The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. They declare that they do not have any commercial or associative interest that represents a conflict of interest in connection with the work submitted.

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Video sequence: a series of advancing and receding experiments to calculate the work of adhesion of different surfaces on the same substrate (MPG 20888 kb)

Figures S1 and S2

AFM images used for roughness calculation of the untreated and FIB-treated stainless steel substrate, as well as a 3D image of the FIB-treated region with highly increased roughness (DOCX 1561 kb)

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von Kleist-Retzow, F., Klauser, W., Zimmermann, S. et al. Assessing micro- and nanoscale adhesion via liquid metal-based contact angle measurements in vacuum. J Mater Sci 55, 4073–4080 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-04253-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-04253-6

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