Challenges in Nanoscale Physics of Wetting Phenomena

International Workshop
26 - 30 August 2019

Contemporary approaches to probe wetting phenomena now involve nanoregimes. Following recent growing potential to bridge the dynamics of the contact line at the mesoscopic length scales to the macroscopic flow, this workshop aims to bring together new experimental techniques such atomic microscopy and X-ray imaging, theoretical tools to include van der Waals and electrostatic interactions, and computational approaches such as molecular dynamics, allowing new insights into this old problem. In addition, new concepts will be introduced, including superhydrophobic and textured surfaces, electrowetting, liquid crystals and suspensions on surfaces, self-assembly of particles at the contact line, wetting of elastic substrates and gels, solidifications of molten metals on substrates and spreading and wetting of liquid metals.

• What are the range of length and time scales characterizing the interaction of the substrate with the two-phase flow?
• Which computational tools are more amenable to a multiscale organization?
• Can matching hydrodynamic theories to a molecular description of the contact line be done seamlessly?
• What are the most appropriate existing or to be developed experiments for benchmarking computational results?
• Can we make more educated suggestions when to use which computational tools for a particular wetting system?