Controlling liquid drops with texture ratchets

Adv Mater. 2012 Mar 22;24(12):1545-50. doi: 10.1002/adma.201104446. Epub 2012 Feb 14.

Abstract

Controlled vibration selectively propels multiple microliter-sized drops along microstructured tracks, leading to simple microfluidic systems that rectify oscillations of the three-phase contact line into asymmetric pinning forces that propel each drop in the direction of higher pinning.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
  • Motion*
  • Surface Properties
  • Vibration
  • Viscosity
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Water