Removal mechanisms of dew via self-propulsion off the gecko skin

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
Gregory S WatsonJolanta A Watson

Abstract

Condensation resulting in the formation of water films or droplets is an unavoidable process on the cuticle or skin of many organisms. This process generally occurs under humid conditions when the temperature drops below the dew point. In this study, we have investigated dew conditions on the skin of the gecko Lucasium steindachneri. When condensation occurs, we show that small dew drops, as opposed to a thin film, form on the lizard's scales. As the droplets grow in size and merge, they can undergo self-propulsion off the skin and in the process can be carried away a sufficient distance to freely engage with external forces. We show that factors such as gravity, wind and fog provide mechanisms to remove these small droplets off the gecko skin surface. The formation of small droplets and subsequent removal from the skin may aid in reducing microbial contact (e.g. bacteria, fungi) and limit conducive growth conditions under humid environments. As well as providing an inhospitable microclimate for microorganisms, the formation and removal of small droplets may also potentially aid in other areas such as reduction and cleaning of some surface contaminants consisting of single or multiple aggregates of particles.

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Citations

Nov 17, 2015·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Moon-Kyung KimNenad Miljkovic
Jun 26, 2015·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Patrick BirbarahNenad Miljkovic
Jun 13, 2015·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Gregory S WatsonJolanta A Watson
Aug 2, 2016·Applied Physics Letters·Roger L ChavezChuan-Hua Chen
Jul 14, 2016·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Shreyas ChavanNenad Miljkovic
Jul 23, 2016·ACS Nano·Hyeongyun ChaNenad Miljkovic
Feb 22, 2017·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Fuqiang ChuLingli Wang
Aug 5, 2015·Chemical Society Reviews·René HenselCarsten Werner
Mar 16, 2019·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Alyssa Y Stark, Christopher T Mitchell
Jun 20, 2019·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Saurabh NathJonathan B Boreyko
Sep 5, 2019·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Finn BoxJian Hui Guan
Jun 20, 2020·Ecology and Evolution·Jendrian RiedelLin Schwarzkopf
Jul 28, 2017·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Fangjie LiuChuan-Hua Chen
Jan 1, 2021·Journal of Colloid and Interface Science·Zhiping YuanXiaomin Wu
Feb 6, 2021·Drug Delivery and Translational Research·Yujie CaiZhen Gu
May 14, 2021·Current Biology : CB·Christopher K BocciaD Luke Mahler
Jun 10, 2021·Nature Communications·Pierre LecointreDavid Quéré
Jul 1, 2021·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Soumei BabaAtsushi Okamoto
Aug 7, 2021·IScience·Benjamin S LazarusMarc A Meyers
Dec 9, 2017·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Fuqiang ChuLingli Wang
Jul 19, 2017·ACS Nano·Megan D MulroeJonathan B Boreyko
Jul 22, 2020·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Qi PengNenad Miljkovic
Jan 15, 2021·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Chuntian LiuClarence Augustine T H Tee
Oct 14, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Simon BaeckensRaoul Van Damme

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