Devices and Methods for Antifouling

A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material, comprising the steps of:

• providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;
• inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes arranged in alternating first and second sets, wherein the first set takes a positive charge under the first electric field and the second set takes a negative charge under the first electric field, the electric field being induced at a magnitude and for a duration to induce a drop of the polar material to take a first dimensional aspect;
• and
• inducing a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes in which at least one electrode in the first set takes a neutral or negative charge and at least one electrode in the second set takes a neutral or positive charge, with the result that the drop of polar liquid moves along the object surface.

A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material, comprising the steps of:

• providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;
• inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes arranged in alternating first and second sets, wherein the first set takes a positive charge under the first electric field and the second set takes a negative charge under the first electric field, the electric field being induced at a magnitude and for a duration to induce a drop of the polar material to take a first flattened shape;
• ceasing the induction of electric field on the plurality of electrodes, with the result that the drop of polar liquid takes a second relaxed shape;
• repeating the inducing and ceasing steps to cause the drop of polar liquid to alternately switch between the first and second shapes and provide a scrubbing action to the object surface.

An object with anti-fouling capability, comprising:

• a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;
• a voltage source connected with the electrodes;
• and
• a controller for controlling the voltage of the electrodes, the controller configured to (a) induce a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce drops of a polar material on the object surface to take a first dimensional aspect, and (b) induce a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce the drops of the polar material to take a second dimensional aspect.