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Tan L, Zeng Q, Xu F, Zhao Q, Chen A, Wang T, Tao X, Yang Y, Wang X. Controllable Manipulation of Large-Volume Droplet on Non-Slippery Surfaces Based on Triboelectric Contactless Charge Injection. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2313878. [PMID: 38364828 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Controllable droplet manipulation is crucial in diverse scientific and engineering fields. Traditional electric-based methods usually rely on commercial high-voltage (HV) power sources, which are typically bulky, expensive, and potentially hazardous. The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a highly studied device that can generate HV output with limited current, showing great potential in droplet manipulation applications. However, current TENG-based approaches usually utilize traditional free-standing TENGs that produce short-pulsed alternating-current signals. This limitation hinders continuous electrostatic forces necessary for precise droplet control, leading to complex circuitry and suboptimal droplet motion control in terms of volume, distance, direction, and momentum. Here, a triboelectric contactless charge injection (TCCI) method employing a novel dual-functional triboelectric nanogenerator (DF-TENG), is proposed. The DF-TENG can produce both high voltage and constant current during unidirectional motion, enabling continuous corona discharges for contactless charge injection into the droplets. Using this method, a large-volume droplet (3000 µL) can be controlled with momentum up to 115.2 g mm s-1, quintupling the highest value recorded by the traditional methods. Moreover, the TCCI method is adaptable for a variety of non-slippery substrates and droplets of different compositions and viscosities, which makes it an ideal manipulation strategy for droplet transport, chemical reactions, and even driving solids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Tan
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Qixuan Zeng
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Fan Xu
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Qing Zhao
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Ai Chen
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Tingyu Wang
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Xingming Tao
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
| | - Xue Wang
- Department of Applied Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China
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2
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Tan S, Han X, Sun Y, Guo P, Sun X, Chai Z, Jiang L, Heng L. Light-Induced Dynamic Manipulation of Liquid Metal Droplets in the Ambient Atmosphere. ACS NANO 2024; 18:8484-8495. [PMID: 38445597 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Dynamic manipulation of liquid metal (LM) droplets, a material combining metallicity and fluidity, has recently revealed tremendous potential in developing unconstrained microrobots. LM manipulating techniques based on magnetic fields, electric fields, chemical reactions, and ion concentration gradients in liquid environments have advanced considerably, but dynamic manipulation in air remains a challenge. Herein, a photoresponsive pyroelectric superhydrophobic (PPS) platform is proposed for noncontact, flexible, and controllable manipulation in the ambient atmosphere. The PPS can generate additional free charges when illuminated by light, thus generating the driving force to manipulate liquid metal droplets. By using the synergistic effect of dielectrophoretic and electrostatic forces generated under light navigation, liquid metal droplets can achieve a series of complex motion behaviors, such as climbing slopes, going over steps, avoiding obstacles, crossing mazes, etc. We further extend the light control of liquid metal droplets to robots applied in electronic circuits, including circuit switching robots and circuit welding robots. This light strategy for manipulating liquid metal droplets provides insights into the development of intelligent, responsive interfaces and simultaneously provides possibilities for the application of liquid metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengda Tan
- School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiao Han
- School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yue Sun
- School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Pu Guo
- School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xu Sun
- School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ziyuan Chai
- School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Liping Heng
- School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
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3
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Cheng G, Kuan CY, Lou KW, Ho YP. Light-Responsive Materials in Droplet Manipulation for Biochemical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2313935. [PMID: 38379512 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Miniaturized droplets, characterized by well-controlled microenvironments and capability for parallel processing, have significantly advanced the studies on enzymatic evolution, molecular diagnostics, and single-cell analysis. However, manipulation of small-sized droplets, including moving, merging, and trapping of the targeted droplets for complex biochemical assays and subsequent analysis, is not trivial and remains technically demanding. Among various techniques, light-driven methods stand out as a promising candidate for droplet manipulation in a facile and flexible manner, given the features of contactless interaction, high spatiotemporal resolution, and biocompatibility. This review therefore compiles an in-depth discussion of the governing mechanisms underpinning light-driven droplet manipulation. Besides, light-responsive materials, representing the core of light-matter interaction and the key character converting light into different forms of energy, are particularly assessed in this review. Recent advancements in light-responsive materials and the most notable applications are comprehensively archived and evaluated. Continuous innovations and rational engineering of light-responsive materials are expected to propel the development of light-driven droplet manipulation, equip droplets with enhanced functionality, and broaden the applications of droplets for biochemical studies and routine biochemical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyao Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Chit Yau Kuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Kuan Wen Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yi-Ping Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- Centre for Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- Hong Kong Branch of CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Regeneration Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
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4
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Luo T, Liu S, Zhou R, Zhang C, Chen D, Zhan Y, Hu Q, He X, Xie Y, Huan Z, Gao W, Li R, Yuan G, Wang Y, Zhou W. Contactless acoustic tweezer for droplet manipulation on superhydrophobic surfaces. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:3989-4001. [PMID: 37565337 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00365e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Droplet manipulation on superhydrophobic surfaces (DMSS) without conventional pipetting is an emerging liquid handling technology, which can be potentially used for diagnostic, analysis, and synthetic processes. Despite notable progress, controlling droplet motion on superhydrophobic surfaces by contactless acoustic waves is rarely reported. Herein, we report a contactless acoustic tweezer (CAT) for DMSS based on establishing ultrasonic standing wave between an ultrasound transducer (UST) and a superhydrophobic substrate to manipulate droplets without physical contact. The CAT utilizes acoustic radiation forces to trap and move droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces, which allows for precise and controllable movement of droplets by controlling the movement of the UST. Small droplets with volume less than 20 μL can be levitated in mid-air for out-plane manipulation, and large droplets with volume up to 500 μL can be trapped for in-plane manipulation. Experimental results demonstrate the versatility of the CAT for manipulating droplets with various compositions and volumes on various superhydrophobic substrates, offering a versatile and cross-contamination-free liquid handling approach for applications, including but not limited to high-throughput surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Luo
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
- The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power & Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Sirui Liu
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Rui Zhou
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Chen Zhang
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Dongyang Chen
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Yi Zhan
- AECC Gui Zhou Liyang Aviation Power Co., Ltd., Guiyang, 550014, China
| | - Qilin Hu
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Xi He
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Yu Xie
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Zhijie Huan
- School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen, 361024, China
| | - Wendi Gao
- The State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, International Joint Laboratory for Micro/Nano Manufacturing and Measurement Technologies, Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Micro/Nano Manufacturing and Nano Measurement Technologies Discipline Innovation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Ruirui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Dynamic Measurement Technology, North University of China, Taiyuan, 030051, P.R. China
| | - Gongfa Yuan
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
| | - Yancheng Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power & Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
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Gao Z, Yan J, Shi L, Liu X, Wang M, Li C, Huai Z, Wang C, Wang X, Zhang L, Yan W. Efficient Surfactant-Mediated Photovoltaic Manipulation of fL-Scale Aqueous Microdroplets for Diverse Optofluidic Applications on LiNbO 3 Platform. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2304081. [PMID: 37526054 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The electrodeless biocompatible manipulation of femtoliter-scale aqueous microdroplets remains challenging. The appropriate isolation of electrostatic charges from femtoliter-scale aqueous microdroplets is crucial for electrodeless optoelectronic manipulation based on space-charge-density modulation. Here, surfactant-mediated photovoltaic manipulation is proposed, where the surfactant layers self-assembled at the water-oil and oil-Lithium niobate interfaces are employed to isolate photovoltaic charges. The reduced electrostatic attenuation, remarkable hydrophobicity, and strong electrical breakdown suppression of the surfactant layers enable the stable and swift manipulation of femtoliter-scale aqueous microdroplets using µW-level laser in oil media. By virtue of the surfactant-mediated photovoltaic manipulation, a controllable merging/touching/detaching switch of aqueous microdroplets by adjusting the laser illumination intensity and position is realized and the cascading biochemical operations and microreactions of aqueous microdroplets and microdroplet strings are demonstrated. To demonstrate its potential in photonic Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System assemblies, the end coupling of a focused-laser-beam into a ZnO microrod leveraging the refraction effect occurring at the water/oil interface is demonstrated. Moreover, because of the selective permeability of the droplet-interface-bilayer developed between the touching microdroplets, in situ adjustment of the size of the microdroplets and the fluorescent solute contained in the microdroplets are achieved, aiming at constructing multicomponent fluorescent microdroplets with tunable whispering-gallery-mode characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuoxuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Jinghui Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Lihong Shi
- Department of Physics, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Xiaohu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Mengtong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Chenyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Zechao Huai
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
| | - Wenbo Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
- Hebei Engineering Laboratory of Photoelectronic Functional Crystals School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300130, China
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6
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Koroyasu Y, Nguyen TV, Sasaguri S, Marzo A, Ezcurdia I, Nagata Y, Yamamoto T, Nomura N, Hoshi T, Ochiai Y, Fushimi T. Microfluidic platform using focused ultrasound passing through hydrophobic meshes with jump availability. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad207. [PMID: 37404834 PMCID: PMC10317206 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Applications in chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering require the large-scale manipulation of a wide range of chemicals, samples, and specimens. To achieve maximum efficiency, parallel control of microlitre droplets using automated techniques is essential. Electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD), which manipulates droplets using the imbalance of wetting on a substrate, is the most widely employed method. However, EWOD is limited in its capability to make droplets detach from the substrate (jumping), which hinders throughput and device integration. Here, we propose a novel microfluidic system based on focused ultrasound passing through a hydrophobic mesh with droplets resting on top. A phased array dynamically creates foci to manipulate droplets of up to 300 μL. This platform offers a jump height of up to 10 cm, a 27-fold improvement over conventional EWOD systems. In addition, droplets can be merged or split by pushing them against a hydrophobic knife. We demonstrate Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling using our platform, showing its potential for a wide range of chemical experiments. Biofouling in our system was lower than in conventional EWOD, demonstrating its high suitability for biological experiments. Focused ultrasound allows the manipulation of both solid and liquid targets. Our platform provides a foundation for the advancement of micro-robotics, additive manufacturing, and laboratory automation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Koroyasu
- School of Informatics, College of Media Arts, Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8550 Ibaraki, Japan
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8550 Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Thanh-Vinh Nguyen
- Sensing System Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8564 Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shun Sasaguri
- School of Informatics, College of Media Arts, Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8550 Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Asier Marzo
- UPNALab, Department of Mathematics and Computer Engineering, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, 31006 Navarra, Spain
| | - Iñigo Ezcurdia
- UPNALab, Department of Mathematics and Computer Engineering, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, 31006 Navarra, Spain
| | - Yuuya Nagata
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0021 Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Yamamoto
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8577 Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Nomura
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8577 Ibaraki, Japan
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8577 Ibaraki, Japan
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8577 Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takayuki Hoshi
- Pixie Dust Technologies, Inc., Chiyoda-ku, 101-0061 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoichi Ochiai
- Pixie Dust Technologies, Inc., Chiyoda-ku, 101-0061 Tokyo, Japan
- R&D Center for Digital Nature, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8550 Ibaraki, Japan
- Institute of Library, Information and Media Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8550 Ibaraki, Japan
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Harischandra PAD, Välisalmi T, Cenev ZM, Linder MB, Zhou Q. Shaping Liquid Droplets on an Active Air-Ferrofluid Interface. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023. [PMID: 37224278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
An air-liquid interface is important in many biological and industrial applications, where the manipulation of liquids on the air-liquid interface can have a significant impact. However, current manipulation techniques on the interface are mostly limited to transportation and trapping. Here, we report a magnetic liquid shaping method that can squeeze, rotate, and shape nonmagnetic liquids on an air-ferrofluid interface with programmable deformation. We can control the aspect ratio of the ellipse and generate repeatable quasi-static shapes of a hexadecane oil droplet. We can rotate droplets and stir liquids into spiral-like structures. We can also shape phase-changing liquids and fabricate shape-programmed thin films at the air-ferrofluid interface. The proposed method may potentially open up new possibilities for film fabrication, tissue engineering, and biological experiments that can be carried out at an air-liquid interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Diluka Harischandra
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, School of Electrical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Teemu Välisalmi
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Espoo, Finland
| | - Zoran M Cenev
- Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Markus B Linder
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Espoo, Finland
| | - Quan Zhou
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, School of Electrical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
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Yuan Z, Lu C, Liu C, Bai X, Zhao L, Feng S, Liu Y. Ultrasonic tweezer for multifunctional droplet manipulation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg2352. [PMID: 37075108 PMCID: PMC10115404 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg2352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporally controllable droplet manipulation is essential in diverse applications, ranging from thermal management to microfluidics and water harvesting. Despite considerable advances, droplet manipulation without surface or droplet pretreatment is still challenging in terms of response and functional adaptability. Here, a droplet ultrasonic tweezer (DUT) based on phased array is proposed for versatile droplet manipulation. The DUT can generate a twin trap ultrasonic field at the focal point for trapping and maneuvering the droplet by changing the position of the focal point, which enables a highly flexible and precise programmable control. By leveraging the acoustic radiation force resulting from the twin trap, the droplet can pass through a confined slit 2.5 times smaller than its own size, cross a slope with an inclination up to 80°, and even reciprocate in the vertical direction. These findings provide a satisfactory paradigm for robust contactless droplet manipulation in various practical settings including droplet ballistic ejection, droplet dispensing, and surface cleaning.
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Li M, Hao J, Bai H, Wang X, Li Z, Cao M. On-Chip Liquid Manipulation via a Flexible Dual-Layered Channel Possessing Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Dichotomy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:19773-19782. [PMID: 36999662 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c03275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The hydrophilic/hydrophobic cooperative interface provides a smart platform to control liquid distribution and delivery. Through the fusion of flexibility and complex structure, we present a manipulable, open, and dual-layered liquid channel (MODLC) for on-demand mechanical control of fluid delivery. Driven by anisotropic Laplace pressure, the mechano-controllable asymmetric channel of MODLC can propel the directional slipping of liquid located between the paired tracks. Upon a single press, the longest transport distance can reach 10 cm with an average speed of ∼3 cm/s. The liquid on the MODLC can be immediately manipulated by pressing or dragging processes, and versatile liquid-manipulating processes on hierarchical MODLC chips have been achieved, including remote droplet magneto-control, continuous liquid distributor, and gas-producing chip. The flexible hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface and its assembly can extend the function and applications of the wettability-patterned interface, which should update our understanding of complex systems for sophisticated liquid transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muqian Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| | - Jingpeng Hao
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, P. R. China
| | - Haoyu Bai
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Xinsheng Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Moyuan Cao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
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10
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Lathia R, Nampoothiri KN, Sagar N, Bansal S, Modak CD, Sen P. Advances in Microscale Droplet Generation and Manipulation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2461-2482. [PMID: 36779356 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microscale droplet generation and manipulation have widespread applications in numerous fields, from biochemical assays to printing and additive manufacturing. There are several techniques for droplet handling. Most techniques, however, can generate and work with only a limited range of droplet sizes. Furthermore, there are constraints regarding the workable variety of fluid properties (e.g., viscosity, surface tension, mass loading, etc.). Recent works have focused on developing techniques to overcome these limitations. This feature article discusses advances in this area that cover a wide range of droplet sizes from subpicoliter to microliter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rutvik Lathia
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Krishnadas Narayanan Nampoothiri
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Chennai 601103, India
| | - Nitish Sagar
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Shubhi Bansal
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Chandantaru Dey Modak
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Laboratoire de Biophysique et Evolution, UMR CNRS-ESPCI 8231 Chimie Biologie Innovation, PSL University, ESPCI Paris, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Prosenjit Sen
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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11
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Yang C, Zeng Q, Huang J, Guo Z. Droplet manipulation on superhydrophobic surfaces based on external stimulation: A review. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 306:102724. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Abstract
Progress in optical manipulation has stimulated remarkable advances in a wide range of fields, including materials science, robotics, medical engineering, and nanotechnology. This Review focuses on an emerging class of optical manipulation techniques, termed heat-mediated optical manipulation. In comparison to conventional optical tweezers that rely on a tightly focused laser beam to trap objects, heat-mediated optical manipulation techniques exploit tailorable optothermo-matter interactions and rich mass transport dynamics to enable versatile control of matter of various compositions, shapes, and sizes. In addition to conventional tweezing, more distinct manipulation modes, including optothermal pulling, nudging, rotating, swimming, oscillating, and walking, have been demonstrated to enhance the functionalities using simple and low-power optics. We start with an introduction to basic physics involved in heat-mediated optical manipulation, highlighting major working mechanisms underpinning a variety of manipulation techniques. Next, we categorize the heat-mediated optical manipulation techniques based on different working mechanisms and discuss working modes, capabilities, and applications for each technique. We conclude this Review with our outlook on current challenges and future opportunities in this rapidly evolving field of heat-mediated optical manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Chen
- Materials Science & Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, and Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Jingang Li
- Materials Science & Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, and Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Yuebing Zheng
- Materials Science & Engineering Program, Texas Materials Institute, and Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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Ni E, Lu K, Song L, Jiang Y, Li H. Regular Self-Actuation of Liquid Metal Nanodroplets in Radial Texture Gradient Surfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:13654-13663. [PMID: 34747618 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metal movement in microfluidic devices generally requires an external stimulus to achieve its motion, which results in many difficulties to precisely manipulate its motion at a nanoscale. Therefore, there is an attempt to control the motion of a liquid metal droplet without the input of an external force. In this paper, we report an approach to achieve the self-actuation of a gallium nanodroplet in radial texture gradients on substrates. The results have proved the validity of this method. It is suggested that there are four stages in the self-motion of the droplet and that the precursor film forming on the second stage plays a pivotal role in the motion. Furthermore, how the impact velocity affects the self-actuation of the nanodroplet on the gradient surface is also studied. We find that the moderate impacting velocity hinders the self-actuation of the gallium nanodroplet. This study is very helpful to regulate the self-actuation on patterned substrates and facilitate their applications in the fields of microfluidics devices, soft robots, and liquid sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erli Ni
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
| | - Kaida Lu
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
| | - Lin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yanyan Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
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14
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Mi Y, Liu X, Gao Z, Wang M, Shi L, Zhang X, Gao K, Mugisha ER, Yan W. 3D Photovoltaic Router of Water Microdroplets Aiming at Free-Space Microfluidic Transportation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:45018-45032. [PMID: 34482685 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c10940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
So far, microfluidic navigation based on space-charge modulation is limited in a two-dimensional (2D) substrate plane. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) photovoltaic water-microdroplet router based on a superhydrophobic LiNbO3:Fe crystal is reported. This router employs the repulsive electrostatic force induced by the positive photovoltaic charges generated under focused laser illumination and permits traveling microdroplets to be routed in both in-plane and out-of-plane ways. By analyzing the dynamic process of microdroplet routing, it is found that the microdroplets can gain positive charges through traveling on a superhydrophobic surface and that the positive photovoltaic charges exert an electrophoretic (EP) force on the microdroplets being charged and make them either routed inside the 2D substrate plane or jump out of the 2D plane through electrostatic ballistic ejection. The laser-illumination and microdroplet-size dependence of the deflecting parameters of the in-plane microdroplet routing as well as the jumping trajectory of the out-of-plane routing are investigated. An electrostatic kinetic model is established for both routing ways, and the simulation based on this model predicts well the experimental dependence. A few examples of cascaded free-space microfluidic transportation using the 3D photovoltaic router are demonstrated, showing the potential of this technique in future biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Mi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Engineering Laboratory of PFC, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Xiaohu Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Engineering Laboratory of PFC, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Zuoxuan Gao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Engineering Laboratory of PFC, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Mengtong Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Engineering Laboratory of PFC, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Lihong Shi
- Department of Physics, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xiong Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Engineering Laboratory of PFC, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Kaifang Gao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Engineering Laboratory of PFC, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Euphrem Rwagasore Mugisha
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Engineering Laboratory of PFC, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Wenbo Yan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Engineering Laboratory of PFC, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
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