Probing surface wetting across multiple force, length and time scales

Abstract Surface wetting is a multiscale phenomenon where properties at the macroscale are determined by features at much smaller length scales, such as nanoscale surface topographies. Traditionally, the wetting of surfaces is quantified by the macroscopic contact angle that a liquid droplet makes, but this approach suffers from various limitations. In recent years, several techniques have been developed to address these shortcomings, ranging from direct measurements of pinning forces using cantilever-based force probes to atomic force microscopy methods. In this review, we will discuss how these new techniques allow for the probing of surface wetting properties in far greater detail. Advances in surface characterization techniques will improve our understanding of surface wetting and facilitate the design of functional surfaces and materials, including for antifogging and antifouling applications