Controlling fluid adhesion force with electric fields

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how applying an external electric field can precisely control the adhesion force of fluids like water or glycerol between plates, enabling enhancement or reduction of bond strength and even detachment without external force.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to manipulate fluid adhesion forces using electric fields and provides an analytical expression for the minimum current needed for detachment.

Findings

Electric fields can increase or decrease fluid adhesion strength.

The adhesion force can be completely nullified, causing fluid detachment.

An analytical formula for the detachment current is derived.

Abstract

Developing adhesives whose bond strength can be externally manipulated is a topic of considerable interest for practical and scientific purposes. In this work, we propose a method of controlling the adhesion force of a regular fluid, such as water and/or glycerol, confined between two parallel plates by applying an external electric field. Our results show the possibility of enhancing or diminishing the bond strength of the liquid sample by appropriately tuning the intensity and direction of the electric current generated by the applied electric field. Furthermore, we verify that, for a given direction of the electric current, the adhesion force can be reduced enough for the fluid to lose its adhesive properties and begin exerting a force to move apart the confining plates. In these circumstances, we obtain an analytical expression for the minimum electric current required to detach the plates without requiring the action of an external force.