The diameter and direction of jumping droplets from condensing water on lotus leaves

Recent publications reported the self-propelled jumping of coalescing dew droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces [1-2]. We further investigated the initial growth, coalescence, and removal by self-propelled ejection of nano and microscopic water droplets on the superhydrophobic surface of lotus leaves under condensing conditions. By using a high-speed digital camera mounted on an optical microscope, we have found: (1) sub-micrometer droplets form and grow on nanoscale waxy hairs; (2) growing droplets coalesce rapidly upon contact, but never jump off the surface unless the diameter of merged droplets exceeds ${\sim}15{\mu}m$; (3) the diameter and direction of jumping droplets are very narrowly distributed, centered at $20-30{\mu}m$ and ${\sim}20$ degrees from the surface normal, respectively. We present a rationale for these observations on the basis of: (a) the hierarchically rough surface structure on nano- and micro-scales; (b) its chemical composition; and (c) the balance among competing forces of cohesion (surface tension), adhesion and gravity.