Propulsion of zwitterionic surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil droplets by low electric fields
Lotta Gustavsson, Bo Peng, Rémi Plamont, Olli Ikkala
TL;DR
Researchers demonstrated that water droplets in oil can be propelled using low electric fields, thanks to a special surfactant.
Contribution
A novel mechanism for droplet propulsion using zwitterionic surfactants and low electric fields is introduced.
Findings
Droplets stabilized by zwitterionic surfactants can be directionally propelled using low electric fields.
The propulsion is controllable and based on stimulus-responsive interfacial phenomena.
Abstract
We show directional and controllable propulsion of zwitterionic surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil droplets driven by low electric fields. Our results suggest that the propulsion mechanism is based on stimulus-responsive on-demand interfacial phenomena. Applied low electric field leads to a directional and velocity-controllable on-demand droplet propulsion.
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Taxonomy
TopicsMicro and Nano Robotics · Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization · Electrohydrodynamics and Fluid Dynamics