This work involved characterization and thermal cycle testing of superhydrophobic surfaces for application in a Jumping Droplet Thermal Diode. Three different superhydrophobic surfaces were fabricated and tested. Microstructures were created with a femtosecond laser on titanium substrates. Three techniques were used to further lower the surface energy of the surface: Submersion in fluorinated silane, vapor deposition of fluorinated silane, and grafting of PDFA. An experiment was built that utilized a thermoelectric cooler to cycle surface temperature, condense water vapor from ambient air, and observe droplet coalescence and self-propelled condensate removal. All three surfaces survived cycling through a temperature range of -30°C to 71°C.
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