THE CHALLENGE
Efficient manipulation and autonomous propulsion of liquid droplets on a surface remain a significant bottleneck for commercial applications in surface self-cleaning, condensation heat management, energy harvesting, and advanced additive manufacturing. Current technologies are fundamentally constrained by the natural interplay of surface tension and gravity, which limits passive droplet jumping to sub-millimeter sizes and prevents reliable handling of larger liquid volumes. Active methods such as mechanical vibration or thermal actuation can move bigger droplets but require substantial external energy input, complicating system design and increasing operational costs. Similarly, conventional fluidic transport solutions, including inkjet and electrospray systems, face frequent nozzle clogging, low jetting velocities, and restricted directional control, all of which reduce throughput and precision in industrial processes. These limitations present a clear opportunity for innovations that can deliver scalable, energy-efficient, and reliable droplet and fluid manipulation, enabling more effective material deposition, faster heat transfer, and improved product performance across a wide range of commercial sectors.
OUR SOLUTION
Our technology provides a breakthrough approach for efficiently moving and depositing centimeter-scale liquid droplets, enabling transformative applications in surface self-cleaning, condensation heat management, spray cooling and advanced manufacturing. By harnessing the controlled burst of a gas bubble entrained in a droplet on low-friction or superhydrophobic surfaces, the bubble burst generates localized capillary waves that convert the droplet’s energy into powerful vertical jumps and directional fluidic jets. This passive mechanism overcomes the traditional size limitations imposed by gravity, eliminates the need for complex external energy inputs, and avoids common issues like nozzle clogging found in conventional printing systems. As a result, it delivers faster, more precise, and highly scalable fluid manipulation, offering industries a reliable, energy-efficient, and versatile tool for material deposition, thermal regulation, and high-throughput manufacturing processes.
Figure: Time-lapsed experimental snapshots of bubble burst-induced fluidic jetting and droplet jumping.
Figure: Schematic of controlling bubble burst-induced directional jetting for 3D printing via modulating substrate orientation.
Advantages:
Potential Application: