Molecules Aggregating on a Surface that includes a Scratch

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the aggregation of molecules on burned versus unburned fused silica surfaces. It concludes that the preference for aggregation on burned silica is due to the removal of low-surface-energy contaminants, resulting in a higher surface energy that attracts liquid molecules. The conversation also touches on the impact of surface morphology on wetting properties, referencing the "lotus effect" as a relevant phenomenon. The geometry of the surface, whether a groove or a bump, does not significantly alter the aggregation mechanism unless it involves nanostructuring.

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  • Understanding of surface energy concepts in materials science
  • Familiarity with the "lotus effect" and its implications for wetting
  • Knowledge of laser processing techniques for materials
  • Basic principles of molecular aggregation and adhesion
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  • Research the "lotus effect" and its applications in surface engineering
  • Explore the principles of ultrahydrophobicity and its visual representations
  • Study the effects of surface roughness on wetting properties in materials
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Materials scientists, surface engineers, chemists, and anyone interested in the interactions between molecules and surfaces, particularly in the context of enhancing wetting properties and surface treatments.

Sciencestd
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fused silica.jpg

View from above of fused silica chip.

In the image is fused silica and the black line is burned fused silica caused by laser, when I cast droplet that contains molecules, never mind which kind of aggregation I tried different kinds of molecules, the aggregation is more preferably on the burned fused silica rather than unburned fused silica, the burning it seems that it caused to a groove in the sample.. so I have two questions:
1- Why the molecules prefer to aggregate more on the burned region, what is the physics behind that??
2- Could the result be changed if the burned region is like a bump and not a groove?

Thank you,
 
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Surface morphology can change wetting properties, especially if there is a regular structure at the nanoscale (google "lotus effect" for example). But if your laser was powerful enough to melt silica (mp 1710 C) and you're seeing the irradiated areas gather liquid, I imagine what happened was that you started with a silica chip that's had no special precautions taken to protect it from ambient, so that it's got a nice thick layer of low-surface-energy crud on it that's come from the air. This happens: bare clean silica has a very high surface energy, and if there's non-volatile schmutz floating around in the air (aerosolized pump oil, dust and dirt from HVAC units, or whatever), it will land on the surface, stick permanently, and lower the surface energy. Irradiating with a laser in air will burn that crud off, leaving behind an area of clean silica, which has a much higher surface energy. When a liquid meets a surface, it will preferentially cover the areas with the highest surface energy. That's my guess as to what's happening here.
 
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Thank you so much for your answer! :) It gives me the way to think about it, really thank you!
I just have couple of questions more, do you think if the groove was like a bump so it will be different? and how the roughness of the surface can change the wetting?
 
Sciencestd said:
do you think if the groove was like a bump so it will be different?
The mechanism I hypothesized would be the same regardless of the geometry, as long as that geometry wasn’t nanostructured.
Sciencestd said:
how the roughness of the surface can change the wetting?
Please google “lotus effect.”

Edit: also, the Wiki page on ultrahydrophobicity has some enlightening pictures.
 
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