Disequilibrium · disequilibrium:surface-energy-difference

Surface energy difference

Two surfaces or interfaces with different surface energy or work function. Contact, sliding and wetting can move charge across them.

symbol ΔγSurfaces and interfacesenergy form surfaceexergy positivealso: wetting, contact electrification potential, interfacial tension gradient, surface-tension gradient, Marangoni stress

Atlas record: 3 claims reference this disequilibrium — 2 established and 1 replicated.

Explorerelations · matrix context · routes · sources · cite

3claims30enumerated routes2routes with complete-composition evidence6candidate routes not searched7cited sources

Relations

drives · 3

Surface energy difference—drives→Triboelectric effectestablished

two materials far apart in the triboelectric series brought into contact and separated repeatedly
dry conditions; humidity bleeds the charge

Surface energy difference—drives→Droplet contact electrificationreplicated

water droplets impacting a pre-charged PTFE surface bridging to an electrode

Surface energy difference—drives→Marangoni effectestablished

a gradient of surface tension along a free liquid interface, from composition (solutocapillary) or temperature (thermocapillary)

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

C.01 Thermoelectric C.02 Thermionic C.03 Thermoacoustic C.04 Pyroelectric C.05 Thermogalvanic C.06 Thermomagnetic C.07 Thermophotovoltaic C.08 Heat engine (thermomechanical)C.09 Caloric (magneto/electro/elasto)C.10 Piezoelectric C.11 Flexoelectric C.12 Triboelectric C.13 Electrostatic (variable capacitance)C.14 Electromagnetic induction C.15 Magnetostrictive C.16 Magnetoelectric C.17 Spin caloritronic C.18 Photovoltaic C.19 Photoelectrochemical C.20 Photothermal C.21 Electrochemical C.22 Osmotic / salinity-gradient C.23 Electrokinetic C.24 Turbomachinery C.25 Magnetohydrodynamic C.26 Radiovoltaic C.27 Nuclear heat C.28 Rectenna C.29 Thermochemical C.30 Biological C.31 Fluctuation / information-driven C.32 Photon momentum C.33 Thermodiffusive C.34 Marangoni C.35 Acoustoelectric C.36 Photodiffusive C.37 Thermo-osmotic C.38 Electrohydrodynamic C.39 Radioluminescent C.40 Thermopolarization

Enumerated routes through this · 30 (showing 24)

Solutocapillary Marangoni rotor3/3 est · demonstrated
Marangoni rotor mini-generator5/5 est · demonstrated
Surface energy difference → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work3/3 est · candidate
Surface energy difference → Droplet contact electrification → Separated surface charge → Electrical work3/3 est · candidate
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work5/5 est · unresolved handoff
Solutocapillary streaming-potential generator (proposed)5/5 est · candidate
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work4/5 est · candidate
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Streaming potential → Ionic current → Electrical work4/5 est · candidate
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work4/5 est · weakly supported
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Streaming potential → Ionic current → Electrical work4/5 est · weakly supported
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Cooling4/6 est · weakly supported
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Pressure gradient → Elastic deformation → Mechanical stress or strain → Elastocaloric effect → Useful heat4/6 est · weakly supported
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Electrostatic induction (variable capacitance) → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Reverse electrowetting → Charge carriers → Electrical work5/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Resonant vibration → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work7/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Electromagnetic induction → Charge carriers → Electrical work6/7 est · candidate
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift → Mechanical motion → Rotating-machine generator action → Charge carriers → Electrical work6/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Triboelectric effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work6/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Electrostatic induction (variable capacitance) → Charge carriers → Electrical work6/7 est · unresolved handoff
Surface energy difference → Marangoni effect → Fluid flow → Flow-induced vibration → Mechanical vibration → Reverse electrowetting → Charge carriers → Electrical work4/7 est · unresolved handoff

Cited sources · 7

[1]
F.-R. Fan, Z.-Q. Tian, Z. L. Wang. Flexible triboelectric generator (2012)
Nano Energy 1, 328–334 · doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2012.01.004 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[2]
D. J. Lacks, T. Shinbrot. Long-standing and unresolved issues in triboelectric charging (2019)
Nature Reviews Chemistry 3, 465–476 · doi:10.1038/s41570-019-0115-1 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[3]
C. Wu et al.. Triboelectric nanogenerator: a foundation of the energy for the new era (2019)
Advanced Energy Materials 9, 1802906 · doi:10.1002/aenm.201802906 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[4]
W. Xu, et al.. A droplet-based electricity generator with high instantaneous power density (2020)
Nature 578, 392–396 · doi:10.1038/s41586-020-1985-6 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[5]
J. Yin, et al.. Generating electricity by moving a droplet of ionic liquid along graphene (2014)
Nature Nanotechnology 9, 378–383 · doi:10.1038/nnano.2014.56 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[6]
L. E. Scriven, C. V. Sternling. The Marangoni Effects (1960)
Nature 187, 186-188 · doi:10.1038/187186a0 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-20 · record
[7]
Q. Dai et al.. Directional interfacial motion of liquids: Fundamentals, evaluations, and manipulation strategies (2021)
Tribology International 154, 106749 · doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2020.106749 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-20 · record

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