Ionic imbalance induced self-propulsion of liquid metals

Ali Zavabeti; Torben Daeneke; Adam F. Chrimes; Anthony P. O’Mullane; Jian Zhen Ou; Arnan Mitchell; Khashayar Khoshmanesh; Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh

doi:10.1038/ncomms12402

Nature Communications (Aug 2016)

Ionic imbalance induced self-propulsion of liquid metals

Ali Zavabeti,
Torben Daeneke,
Adam F. Chrimes,
Anthony P. O’Mullane,
Jian Zhen Ou,
Arnan Mitchell,
Khashayar Khoshmanesh,
Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh

Affiliations

Ali Zavabeti: School of Engineering, RMIT University
Torben Daeneke: School of Engineering, RMIT University
Adam F. Chrimes: School of Engineering, RMIT University
Anthony P. O’Mullane: School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Jian Zhen Ou: School of Engineering, RMIT University
Arnan Mitchell: School of Engineering, RMIT University
Khashayar Khoshmanesh: School of Engineering, RMIT University
Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh: School of Engineering, RMIT University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12402
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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The control over the motion and deformation of liquid droplets is essential to many microfluidic and actuation systems. Zavabeti et al. demonstrate that applying a pH or ionic gradient across a droplet of liquid metal alloy of gallium results in its motion due to a breaking of the surface charge symmetry.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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