Evaporation of a thin particle-laden sessile droplet on a soft viscoelastic substrate

Evaporation-driven deposition in particle-laden droplets on soft substrates involves complex interactions not yet fully understood. This study presents the first theoretical model coupling droplet dynamics, substrate deformation, and particle transport on a viscoelastic solid. We reveal novel phenomena such as secondary wetting ridge formation, spontaneous symmetry breaking, and an oscillatory contact line instability unique to particle-laden systems. These findings deepen the understanding of deposition patterns and offer insights into the interplay of elasticity, capillarity, and colloidal effects.