# Propulsion of zwitterionic surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil droplets by low electric fields

## 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.

## Key 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.