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Chen YJ, Fang CY, Huang YW, Hsu TF, Tang NT, Tsai HP, Lee RH, Lin SH, Hsuen HW, Lin KYA, Yang H. White Roman Goose Feather-Inspired Unidirectionally Inclined Conical Structure Arrays for Switchable Anisotropic Self-Cleaning. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:36840-36850. [PMID: 38954505 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c09082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
White Roman goose (Anser anser domesticus) feathers, comprised of oriented conical barbules, are coated with gland-secreted preening oils to maintain a long-term nonwetting performance for surface swimming. The geese are accustomed to combing their plumages with flat bills in case they are contaminated with oleophilic substances, during which the amphiphilic saliva spread over the barbules greatly impairs their surface hydrophobicities and allows the trapped contaminants to be anisotropically self-cleaned by water flows. Particularly, the superhydrophobic behaviors of the goose feathers are recovered as well. Bioinspired by the switchable anisotropic self-cleaning functionality of white Roman geese, superhydrophobic unidirectionally inclined conical structures are engineered through the integration of a scalable colloidal self-assembly technology and a colloidal lithographic approach. The dependence of directional sliding properties on the shape, inclination angle, and size of conical structures is systematically investigated in this research. Moreover, their switchable anisotropic self-cleaning functionalities are demonstrated by Sudan blue II/water (0.01%) separation performances. The white Roman goose feather-inspired coatings undoubtedly offer a new concept for developing innovative applications that require directional transportation and the collection of liquids.
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Affiliation(s)
- You-Jie Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Cai-Yin Fang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Wen Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Fang Hsu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Nien-Ting Tang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ping Tsai
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xingda Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Rong-Ho Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Hua Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Wen Hsuen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Yi Andrew Lin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
- Institute of Analytical and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan
| | - Hongta Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
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2
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Chen KT, Wu YP, Huang YF, Hsu CC, Shieh J. Repulsion, Acceleration, and Coalescence between Water Droplets on Superhydrophobic Glass by Triboelectrification. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:13219-13226. [PMID: 38865155 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c01366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Manipulating the motion of water droplets on surfaces, which is crucial for various applications, such as microfluidics and heat transfer, presents considerable challenges, primarily due to the significant influence of capillary forces. This effect becomes more pronounced when droplets are in close proximity, often resulting in undesired coalescence. Triboelectrification, which involves charging pure water droplets, is a promising approach to enhance the ability to manipulate water droplets. For effective triboelectrification, charges must accumulate within the droplets; this ensures efficient and sustained droplet manipulation while minimizing dissipation. Low-friction, superhydrophobic, insulating surfaces are ideal for this purpose. However, few studies have explored the application of insulating superhydrophobic surfaces to manipulate droplet motion. In this study, we investigated the behavior of water droplets on insulating superhydrophobic quartz surfaces after triboelectrification. The droplets acquired significant charge when dripped onto a superhydrophobic glass surface. Consequently, these charged droplets exhibited behaviors such as repulsion and acceleration from one another, uphill movement, and rapid long-distance transport to specific positions. These advancements in droplet manipulation techniques hold promise for diverse fields such as microfluidics and heat exchangers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Ting Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36063, Taiwan
| | - Yu Ping Wu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36063, Taiwan
| | - Yu Fang Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36063, Taiwan
| | - Chin Chi Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36063, Taiwan
| | - Jiann Shieh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36063, Taiwan
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3
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Liu M, Hua J, Du X. Smart materials for light control of droplets. NANOSCALE 2024. [PMID: 38624048 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05593k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Droplet manipulation plays a critical role in both fundamental research and practical applications, especially when combined with smart materials and external fields to achieve multifunctional droplet manipulation. Light control of droplets has emerged as a significant and widely used strategy, driven primarily by photochemistry, photomechanics, light-induced Marangoni effects, and light-induced electric effects. This approach allowing for droplet manipulation with high spatial and temporal resolution, all while maintaining a remote and non-contact mode of operation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms underlying light control of droplets, the design of smart materials for this purpose, and the diverse range of applications enabled by this technique. These applications include merging, splitting, releasing, forwarding, backward movement, and rotation of droplets, as well as chemical reactions, droplet robots, and microfluidics. By presenting this information, we aim to establish a unified framework that guides the sustainable development of light control of droplets. Additionally, this review addresses the challenges associated with light control of droplets and suggests potential directions for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijin Liu
- Institute of Biomedical & Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Jiachuan Hua
- Institute of Biomedical & Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Xuemin Du
- Institute of Biomedical & Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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4
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Tang Z, Xu B, Man X, Liu H. Bioinspired Superhydrophobic Fibrous Materials. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2300270. [PMID: 37312429 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Natural fibers with robust water repellency play an important role in adapting organisms to various environments, which has inspired the development of artificial superhydrophobic fibrous materials with applications in self-cleaning, antifogging, water harvesting, heat exchanging, catalytic reactions, and microrobots. However, these highly textured surfaces (micro/nanotextured) suffer from frequent liquid penetration in high humidity and abrasion-induced destruction of the local environment. Herein, bioinspired superhydrophobic fibrous materials are reviewed from the perspective of the dimension scale of fibers. First, the fibrous dimension characteristics of several representative natural superhydrophobic fibrous systems are summarized, along with the mechanisms involved. Then, artificial superhydrophobic fibers are summarized, along with their various applications. Nanometer-scale fibers enable superhydrophobicity by minimizing the liquid-solid contact area. Micrometer-scale fibers are advantageous for enhancing the mechanical stability of superhydrophobicity. Micrometer-scale conical fibrous structures endow a Laplace force with a particular magnitude for self-removing condensed tiny dewdrops in highly humid air and stably trapping large air pockets underwater. Furthermore, several representative surface modification strategies for constructing superhydrophobic fibers are presented. In addition, several conventional applications of superhydrophobic systems are presented. It is anticipated that the review will inspire the design and fabrication of superhydrophobic fibrous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongxue Tang
- School of Physics, Beihang University, No. 37, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Bojie Xu
- Research Institute for Frontier Science, Beihang University, No. 37, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Xingkun Man
- School of Physics, Beihang University, No. 37, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Huan Liu
- Research Institute for Frontier Science, Beihang University, No. 37, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
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Escobar J, Molina J, Gil-Santos E, Ruz JJ, Malvar Ó, Kosaka PM, Tamayo J, San Paulo Á, Calleja M. Nanomechanical Sensing for Mass Flow Control in Nanowire-Based Open Nanofluidic Systems. ACS NANO 2023; 17:21044-21055. [PMID: 37903505 PMCID: PMC10655260 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c04020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Open nanofluidic systems, where liquids flow along the outer surface of nanoscale structures, provide otherwise unfeasible capabilities for extremely miniaturized liquid handling applications. A critical step toward fully functional applications is to obtain quantitative mass flow control. We demonstrate the application of nanomechanical sensing for this purpose by integrating voltage-driven liquid flow along nanowire open channels with mass detection based on flexural resonators. This approach is validated by assembling the nanowires with microcantilever resonators, enabling high-precision control of larger flows, and by using the nanowires as resonators themselves, allowing extremely small liquid volume handling. Both implementations are demonstrated by characterizing voltage-driven flow of ionic liquids along the surface of the nanowires. We find a voltage range where mass flow rate follows a nonlinear monotonic increase, establishing a steady flow regime for which we show mass flow control at rates from below 1 ag/s to above 100 fg/s and precise liquid handling down to the zeptoliter scale. The observed behavior of mass flow rate is consistent with a voltage-induced transition from static wetting to dynamic spreading as the mechanism underlying liquid transport along the nanowires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier
E. Escobar
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Molina
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Gil-Santos
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - José J. Ruz
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Óscar Malvar
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Priscila M. Kosaka
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Tamayo
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro San Paulo
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Calleja
- Instituto
de Micro y Nanotecnología (IMN-CNM, CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
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6
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Hou L, Liu X, Ge X, Hu R, Cui Z, Wang N, Zhao Y. Designing of anisotropic gradient surfaces for directional liquid transport: Fundamentals, construction, and applications. Innovation (N Y) 2023; 4:100508. [PMID: 37753526 PMCID: PMC10518492 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2023.100508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Many biological surfaces are capable of transporting liquids in a directional manner without energy consumption. Inspired by nature, constructing asymmetric gradient surfaces to achieve desired droplet transport, such as a liquid diode, brings an incredibly valuable and promising area of research with a wide range of applications. Enabled by advances in nanotechnology and manufacturing techniques, biomimetics has emerged as a promising avenue for engineering various types of anisotropic material system. Over the past few decades, this approach has yielded significant progress in both fundamental understanding and practical applications. Theoretical studies revealed that the heterogeneous composition and topography mainly govern the wetting mechanisms and dynamics behavior of droplets, including the interdisciplinary aspects of materials, chemistry, and physics. In this review, we provide a concise overview of various biological surfaces that exhibit anisotropic droplet transport. We discussed the theoretical foundations and mechanisms of droplet motion on designed surfaces and reviewed recent research advances in droplet directional transport on designed plane surfaces and Janus membranes. Such liquid-diode materials yield diverse promising applications, involving droplet collection, liquid separation and delivery, functional textiles, and biomedical applications. We also discuss the recent challenges and ongoing approaches to enhance the functionality and application performance of anisotropic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Hou
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- School of Printing and Packaging Engineer, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing 102600, China
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xiaofei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xinran Ge
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Rongjun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
- Institute of Applied Chemistry, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330096, China
| | - Zhimin Cui
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Nü Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
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7
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Autonomous and directional flow of water and transport of particles across a subliming dynamic crystal surface. Nat Chem 2023; 15:677-684. [PMID: 36927787 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01158-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Chemical and morphological traits of natural substrates that can propel and transport fluids over their surfaces have long provided inspiration for the engineering of artificial materials that can harvest and collect water from aerial humidity. Here we report that the gradual widening of parallel microchannels on a surface of a slowly subliming hexachlorobenzene crystal can promote the autonomous and bidirectional transduction of condensed aerial water. Driven by topology changes on the surface of the crystal and water exchange with the gas phase, droplets of condensed water migrate over the crystal. These droplets are also able to transport silver particles and other particulate matter, such as dust. The velocity of the particles was shown to be dependent on both the sublimation rate of the crystal and the relative humidity of its environment. This example of a sublimation-powered water flow demonstrates that topological surface changes accompanying crystal phase transitions can be harnessed to transport liquid and solid matter over surfaces.
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8
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Zhou S, Jiang L, Dong Z. Overflow Control for Sustainable Development by Superwetting Surface with Biomimetic Structure. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2276-2310. [PMID: 35522923 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Liquid flowing around a solid edge, i.e., overflow, is a commonly observed flow behavior. Recent research into surface wetting properties and microstructure-controlled overflow behavior has attracted much attention. Achieving controllable macroscale liquid dynamics by manipulating the micro-nanoscale liquid overflow has stimulated diverse scientific interest and fostered widespread use in practical applications. In this review, we outline the evolution of overflow and present a critical survey of the mechanism of surface wetting properties and microstructure-controlled liquid overflow in multilength scales ranging from centimeter to micro and even nanoscale. We summarize the latest progress in utilizing the mechanisms to manipulate liquid overflow and achieve macroscale liquid dynamics and in emerging applications to manipulate overflow for sustainable development in various fields, along with challenges and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhichao Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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9
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Wang L. A critical review on robust self-cleaning properties of lotus leaf. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:1058-1075. [PMID: 36637093 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01521h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The robust self-cleaning of a lotus leaf is the most classic and powerful phenomenon in nature, whose hybrid papillae and biological wax guarantee its functions. The stability of the lotus leaf surface function is determined by its overall structural design, and is also the fundamental reason for its long-term survival in the natural environment. In fact, the durability of lotus leaf surface function is facilitated by the coordination of many factors which is why it is challenging to be investigated using bionic technology. In this review, we comprehensively examined the synergistic effects of flexible characteristics, surface topography, hollow interlayers, leaf shape, and bent petioles on the structural stability of the lotus leaf surface. The key significance of these factors is in transferring the stress and strain on the surface downwards, reducing the load on the surface, improving the durability of the self-cleaning function, and ultimately ensuring respiration and photosynthesis of leaves in the natural environment. This comprehensive scrutiny offers a novel classical bionic scheme for enhancing the structural stability of a surface, which has potential for applications in deepwater self-cleaning, anti-drag, anti-icing, thermal insulation, and mechanical enhancement of membranes and buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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10
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Si W, Guo Z. Enhancing the lifespan and durability of superamphiphobic surfaces for potential industrial applications: A review. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 310:102797. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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11
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Liu Z, Peng J, Yu C, Dong Z. Introduction to the biomimetic design of interfacial materials for water overflow control. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:9051-9059. [PMID: 35880658 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc03224d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The overflow behavior of liquid at a curved surface or a surface border is a common phenomenon in many circumstances of daily life and industry. Accurate control of overflow is beneficial for improving the convenience of our daily life and efficiency of production, thus has great importance not only for enhancing existing applications but for creating new products. The effect of surface wettability on overflow has not been paid enough attention in the past, however, as the development of construction techniques, especially 3D printing, of superwettable surfaces and the understanding of the dynamic interfacial wetting properties, the potential of surface wettability and structure on the overflow control has gained great recognition in the recent decade. On this basis, the feature article will outline the understanding evolution of the overflow phenomenon, and summarise the current research on the control of overflow behavior from aspects including the bioinspired idea, the fabrication of superwettable surfaces, the development of control techniques, the exploration of control mechanisms, etc., and provide an outlook for the accurate control of overflow by surfactant and additives, along with challenges and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoxing Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. .,Future Technology College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jia Peng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. .,Future Technology College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Cunlong Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. .,Future Technology College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhichao Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. .,Future Technology College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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12
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He X, Cheng J. Evaporation-triggered directional transport of asymmetrically confined droplets. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 604:550-561. [PMID: 34274716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.06.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS When a liquid droplet is confined between two non-parallel hydrophobic surfaces with dihedral angle α, its behavior is largely influenced by the asymmetric confinement. During evaporation, the droplet morphology under confinement will continuously evolve, leading to the directional transport of the droplet towards the cusp. EXPERIMENTS AND SIMULATIONS During the evaporation process, droplets at different initial locations l0 from the cusp were experimentally observed to transport towards the cusp. A series of simulations using Surface Evolver were performed to obtain the three-dimensional morphologies of the confined droplets. Force and energy analyses were conducted to unveil the mechanisms dominating the evaporation-triggered actuation and transport. FINDINGS The asymmetrically confined droplet of volume V would drift towards an equilibrium location of le from the cusp with the lowest energy. Its directional motion results from the consecutively decreasing le, which is scaled as le~α-1V13 during evaporation. Herein, the creeping and slipping modes of transport could be characterized as the quasi-stable and unstable self-relaxation processes of droplet from the stretched regime to the equilibrium regime, respectively. Our findings on the intrinsic mechanism of droplet actuation shed light on a novel approach to manipulating the confined droplet behaviors in a passive and decisive fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xukun He
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Jiangtao Cheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; Center for Soft Matter and Biological Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
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13
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Kamtsikakis A, Weder C. Asymmetric Mass Transport through Dense Heterogeneous Polymer Membranes: Fundamental Principles, Lessons from Nature, and Artificial Systems. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 43:e2100654. [PMID: 34792266 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Many organisms rely on directional water transport schemes for the purpose of water retention and collection. Directional transport of water and other fluids is also technologically relevant, for example to harvest water, in separation processes, packaging solutions, functional clothing, and many other applications. One strategy to promote mass transport along a preferential direction is to create compositionally asymmetric, multi-layered, or compositionally graded architectures. In recent years, the investigation of natural and artificial membranes based on this design has attracted growing interest and allowed researchers to develop a good understanding of how the properties of such membranes can be tailored to meet the demands of particular applications. Here a summary of theoretical works on mass transport through dense asymmetric membranes, comprehensive reviews of biological and artificial membranes featuring this design, and a discussion of applications, remaining questions, and opportunities are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristotelis Kamtsikakis
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Weder
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
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14
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Liu C, Sun Y, Huanng J, Guo Z, Liu W. External-field-induced directional droplet transport: A review. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 295:102502. [PMID: 34390884 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Directional transport of fluids is crucial for vital activities of organisms and numerous industrial applications. This process has garnered widespread research attention due to the wide breadth of flexible applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, and digital microfluidics. The rational design of functional surfaces that can achieve the subtle control of liquid behavior. Previous studies were mainly dependent on the special asymmetric structures, which inevitably have the problem of slow transport speed and short distance. To improve controllability, researchers have attempted to use external fields, such as thermal, light, electric fields, and magnetic fields, to achieve controllable droplet transport. On the fundamental side, much of their widespread applicably is due to the degree of control over droplet transport. This review provides an overview of recent progress in the last three years toward the transport of droplets with different mechanisms induced by various external stimuli, including light, electric, thermal, and magnetic field. First, the relevant basic theory and typical induced gradient for directional liquid transport are illustrated. We will then review the latest advances in the external-field-induced directional transport. Moreover, the most emerging applications such as digital microfluidics, harvesting of energy and water, heat transfer, and oil/water separation are also presented. Finally, we will outline possible future perspectives to attract more researchers interest and promote the development of this field.
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15
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Electrospinning Janus Nanofibrous Membrane for Unidirectional Liquid Penetration and Its Applications. Chem Res Chin Univ 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40242-021-0010-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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16
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Abstract
Field-assisted self-assembly, motion, and manipulation of droplets have gained much attention in the past decades. We exhibit an electric field manipulation of the motion of a liquid metal (mercury) droplet submerged in a conductive liquid medium (a solution of sulfuric acid). A mercury droplet moves toward the cathode and its path selection is always given by the steepest descent of the local electric field potential. Utilizing this unique behavior, we present several examples of droplet motions, including maze solving, electro-levitation, and motion on a diverted path between parallel electrodes by controlling the conductivity of the medium. We also present an experimental demonstration of Fermat's principle in a non-optical system, namely a mercury droplet moving along a refracted path between electrodes in a domain having two different conductivities.
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17
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Chen G, Dai Z, Li S, Huang Y, Xu Y, She J, Zhou B. Magnetically Responsive Film Decorated with Microcilia for Robust and Controllable Manipulation of Droplets. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:1754-1765. [PMID: 33393309 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c16262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Droplet manipulations are critical for applications ranging from biochemical analysis, medical diagnosis to environmental controls. Even though magnetic actuation has exhibited great potential, the capability of high-speed, precise manipulation, and mixing improvement covering a broad droplet volume has not yet been realized. Herein, we demonstrated that the magnetic actuation could be conveniently achieved via decorating the magnetically responsive film with microcilia. Under magnetic field, the film can quickly response with localized deformation, along with the microcilia to realize the surface superhydrophobicity for droplet manipulation with velocity up to ∼173 mm/s covering a broad volume of 2-100 μL. The robust system further allows us to realize rapid and complete droplet mixing within ∼1.6 s. In addition, the microcilia decorated surface can preserve the robust superhydrophobicity after various stability tests, for example, normal pressing, chemical corrosion, and mechanical abrasion, exhibiting the possibility toward the long-term and real applications. With the multifunctional demonstrations such as obvious mixing improvement, parallel manipulation, and serial dilution, we believe that the methodology can open up a magnetic field-based avenue for future applications in digital microfluidics, and biochemical assays, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Chen
- Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Ziyi Dai
- Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Shunbo Li
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education & Key Disciplines Laboratory of Novel Micro-Nano Devices and System Technology, College of Optoelectronics Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Yifeng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education & Key Disciplines Laboratory of Novel Micro-Nano Devices and System Technology, College of Optoelectronics Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Juncong She
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Bingpu Zhou
- Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
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18
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Soltani M, Golovin K. Anisotropy-induced directional self-transportation of low surface tension liquids: a review. RSC Adv 2020; 10:40569-40581. [PMID: 35520851 PMCID: PMC9057580 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra08627d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Inspired by natural surfaces such as butterfly wings, cactus leaves, or the Nepenthes alata plant, synthetic materials may be engineered to directionally transport liquids on their surface without external energy input. This advantageous feature has been adopted for various mechanical and chemical processes, e.g. fog harvesting, lubrication, lossless chemical reactions, etc. Many studies have focused on the manipulation and transport of water or aqueous droplets, but significantly fewer have extended their work to low surface tension (LST) liquids, although these fluids are involved in numerous industrial and everyday processes. LST liquids completely wet most surfaces which makes spontaneous transportation an active challenge. This review focuses on recently developed strategies for passively and directionally transporting LST liquids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Soltani
- Okanagan Polymer Engineering Research & Applications Laboratory, Faculty of Applied Science, University of British Columbia Canada
| | - Kevin Golovin
- Okanagan Polymer Engineering Research & Applications Laboratory, Faculty of Applied Science, University of British Columbia Canada
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