Why charged drops do not splash

Abstract

The dynamics of charged drops, especially in the context of drop splashing, remains largely uncharted despite its prevalence in both natural phenomena and technological applications. Our research uncovers the ability of charged drops to suppress splashing effectively. The electric charges surrounding drops exert a force that pulls the ejecting lamella toward the substrate, resulting in a thinner lubrication air film at the solid-liquid interface. We further develop a theoretical framework to relate splash threshold velocity with drop charges and surface dielectric constant. Our results extend the scope of drop-splashing studies beyond the assumption of electric neutrality and highlight the potential of controlling splashing by manipulating drop charges.