Anomalous droplet transfer by surface acoustic waves through a microgap under a thin barrier

The transfer of droplets through a microgap under a thin barrier in the direction opposite to the motion of the surface acoustic waves (SAWs) acting on them has been discovered. Initially, the droplets are in contact with the barrier on the side opposite the SAW source. Under the SAW action, the transfer of a significant portion of the droplet volume through the microgap to the opposite side of the barrier is observed. This is in contrast to the behavior of droplets not in contact with the barrier. These droplets move in the direction of SAW motion. Experiments were performed to determine the effects of droplet size, SAW source power, and barrier wettability on the intensity of anomalous transfer. In addition, a computer simulation of a system simpler than the original was performed to identify the processes responsible for droplet growth on the side of the barrier facing the SAW source. Based on the analysis of the experimental and computational results, a model is proposed to explain the discovered phenomenon. The model assumes that the initial stage of anomalous transfer is due to atomization–coalescence, and the subsequent, more intense stage is due to the specificity of the streams circulating in the growing droplets. The article also shows that in a system of two parallel barriers, anomalous transfer allows either droplet division or droplet division and mixing.