各向异性浸润表面在液体操控中的应用

在自然界中,各种生物表面,如水稻叶、蝴蝶翅膀、沙漠甲虫鞘翅、蜘蛛丝、仙人掌刺及猪笼草口缘等,都存在着各向异性浸润性.当液体接触线遇到固体表面的物理不对称性或化学不均匀性时,就会发生各向异性浸润现象,表现为表面在特定而非随机的方向上展现出不同的液滴接触角和滑动角,并伴随着液体的各向异性扩散和各向异性运动行为.近年来,各向异性浸润表面的理论研究和实际应用引起了人们广泛的关注.液体操控,尤其是可控定向液体输送,作为一种极具发展前景的重要智能液体操纵形式,在许多领域发挥着重要作用.各向异性浸润表面因其独特的物理化学性质,在液体操控领域的应用获得了快速发展.本文结合本课题组的研究工作,提出了各向同性浸润和各向异性浸润的有关观点,总结了以微/纳米结构为主的人造各向异性浸润表面在液体操控领域的最新进展,包括可控浸润性、微流控及液体运输和水/雾收集.最后讨论了这一快速发展领域目前面临的挑战和未来的发展前景.     

微纳米复合的各向异性结构表面的液滴驱动

通过聚二甲基硅氧烷和Co粉混合物模板复型、外加磁场控制法和氧化锌纳米线水热生长法,制备了微纳米复合的各向异性结构表面.该结构表面规整分布着间距为400μm的倾斜锥状纤维,其底部和顶部直径分别约为200和80μm,长度约为1 mm.锥状纤维的表面覆有氧化锌纳米线,其直径约为80~100 nm,长度约为1μm.该表面呈疏水性,接触角约为142.5°,且具有浸润性各向异性的特征.实验结果表明,液滴在该表面可以定向弹跳或在垂直振动情况下定向滚动,为设计驱动液滴的功能性材料提供了思路.     

特殊浸润性表面的液滴凝结

以铝片为基底, 经电化学腐蚀和沸水处理制备了多级微纳米结构; 通过气相沉积和涂油分别制备了超疏水表面、 疏水超润滑(slippery)表面和亲水slippery表面; 探究了表面不同的特殊浸润性(超亲水、 超疏水、 疏水slippery和亲水slippery)对液滴凝结的影响. 结果表明, 超亲水表面的液滴凝结属于膜状冷凝, 超疏水表面和slippery表面的液滴凝结均属于滴状冷凝. 超疏水表面液滴合并时, 合并的液滴会不定向弹离表面. 疏水slippery表面和亲水slippery表面由于表面浸润性的不同导致液滴成核密度和液滴合并的差异, 亲水slippery表面凝结液滴的最大体积远大于疏水slippery表面凝结液滴的最大体积. 4种表面的雾气收集效率由大到小依次为亲水slippery表面>疏水slippery表面>超亲水表面>超疏水表面.     

仿生制备功能性聚合物光子晶体

简述了自然界生物光子晶体经过不断的进化与演变而具有的一些特殊的性能,如亮丽的结构色彩、特殊的浸润性及高强度.受自然界生物光子晶体的这些特殊性能启发,通过对聚合物乳胶粒硬核软壳结构、表面功能基团及表面形貌的设计和调控等方法仿生制备了具有特殊浸润性的光子晶体;并在胶体晶体的聚合物乳胶粒间引入光交联聚合物,制备得到高强度的光子晶体;通过对蘑菇头形状乳胶粒两端的浸润性差异的设计制备,组装得到新型的各向异性结构的光子晶体.进一步发展了这些功能性光子晶体在湿度检测、油传感、自振荡体系等方面的应用.发展了通过喷涂、打印方法实现大面积、图案化聚合物光子晶体的简单制备.     

具有特殊浸润性的各向异性微纳米分级结构表面构筑的研究进展

自然界存在许多具有各向异性表面结构的生物,其表面表现出典型的对液体操控的方向性的差异。近年来,这种表面微结构的构筑引起了广泛的研究兴趣,已成为一个热点研究方向。天然的各向异性浸润表面是由复杂的异质微纳米结构组成,基于基础研究和应用推广的目的,可以将其简化为一些有序的方向性结构表面。本文介绍了现在应用广泛的几种各向异性微纳米分级结构的构筑方法,并对比分析其可行性。同时,文中还深入讨论了各向异性微纳米分级结构表面对于液体行为的调控。这种各向异性微纳米分级结构表面在微流体运输、微流控芯片等领域将有重要应用,也会对生命科学(比如生物芯片和重大疾病的早期诊断)、能源(比如电极材料的可控制备)和环境(比如污染物的分离及定向转化)等研究做出巨大的贡献。     

具有各向异性微纳米分级结构表面的构筑及其特殊浸润性的研究进展

自然界存在许多具有各向异性表面结构的生物,其表面表现出典型的对液体操控的方向性的差异。近年来,这种表面微结构的构筑引起了广泛的研究兴趣,已成为一个热点研究方向。天然的各向异性浸润表面是由复杂的异质微纳米结构组成,基于基础研究和应用推广的目的,可以将其简化为一些有序的方向性结构表面。本文介绍了现在应用广泛的几种各向异性微纳米分级结构的构筑方法,并对比分析其可行性。同时,文中还深入讨论了各向异性微纳米分级结构表面对于液体行为的调控。这种各向异性微纳米分级结构表面在微流体运输、微流控芯片等领域将有重要应用,也会对生命科学(比如生物芯片和重大疾病的早期诊断)、能源(比如电极材料的可控制备)和环境(比如污染物的分离及定向转化)等研究做出巨大的贡献。     

通过调控表面活性剂的HLB值制备具有拓扑结构的磁性聚合物微球

具有不同形貌的聚合物微球在生物和材料等领域应用广泛。目前,越来越多的研究选择以微流控技术为平台来制备聚合物微球。在这里,本文介绍了一种基于微流控技术,通过调节表面活性剂的HLB值从而制备具有拓扑结构磁性聚合物微球的方法。结果表明,不同表面活性剂的HLB值能够调控液滴的演变行为和目标微球的形貌特征。同时,该方法具备一定的普适性。这可作为制备聚合物微球的有效补充工具。     

低表面能化合物在超浸润材料中的应用

近年来,由于超浸润材料在自清洁、微流体传输和生物相容性等方面的潜在应用,具有极端润湿性的超浸润材料成为了材料领域的一个研究热点。研究表明,除材料表面微纳米结构的构筑外,材料表面能的控制也是制备超浸润材料的另一关键因素。随着对超浸润材料润湿性机理研究的深入,许多不同结构不同类型的低表面能化合物也越来越多地被应用于超浸润材料的制备中。本文从分子结构、化合物类型等角度出发,综述了超浸润材料制备中所大量应用的低表面能化合物,并归纳了pH值、温度、浓度及溶剂等因素对材料低表面能化的影响,总结了低表面能化合物在提高机械强度、制备润湿性转换材料和不同浸润性修饰中的选择和应用情况,最后提出了低表面能化合物应用的一些不足之处并对其发展方向进行了展望。     

仿生多微纳米梯度界面的液滴动态行为调控

对液滴在界面上动态行为的研究是化学和材料领域的一个重要方向,许多先进的表面和界面技术,比如集水、防覆冰、防雾、微流体控制和传热等,均属于这一范畴.通过模仿自然界中具有特殊微纳米结构和特定化学组成的生物表面,设计并构筑相应具有特殊浸润性的仿生界面,对仿生界面材料的技术应用起到了良好的先导与示范作用.本文结合本课题组的研究...     

仿生各向异性聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)水凝胶智能响应驱动器的研究进展

各向异性水凝胶在外界的响应刺激下可以具有不同的反应机制与驱动过程. 本文综述了近期基于PNIPAM水凝胶智能响应驱动器的设计方法, 总结了多种各向异性结构对驱动性能的影响, 并对该领域所面临的挑战进行了讨论.     

Recent progress in experiments for sessile droplet wetting on structured surfaces

Wetting of a sessile droplet on structured or patterned surface can be found in a broad range of applications. The researchers have been promoted to keep working on the topic. The review is on the basis of the recent experimental advances on the sessile droplet wetting on the hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or combined hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces under isothermal conditions, and on heating or cooling substrates having nonisothermal conditions. More attention has been paid on the wetting configuration between the sessile droplet and the structured substrate; the research gap has been discussed on identifying the three-phase line shape. Further, the three-dimensional measurement for the sessile droplets on the patterned surfaces with focusing more on the contact line of sessile droplets might reveal new physical insights. This review targets at building a holistic overview on the sessile droplet wetting behaviors on the structured substrate in the past 2 years.     

Predictive model for ice formation on superhydrophobic surfaces

The prevention and control of ice accumulation has important applications in aviation, building construction, and energy conversion devices. One area of active research concerns the use of superhydrophobic surfaces for preventing ice formation. The present work develops a physics-based modeling framework to predict ice formation on cooled superhydrophobic surfaces resulting from the impact of supercooled water droplets. This modeling approach analyzes the multiple phenomena influencing ice formation on superhydrophobic surfaces through the development of submodels describing droplet impact dynamics, heat transfer, and heterogeneous ice nucleation. These models are then integrated together to achieve a comprehensive understanding of ice formation upon impact of liquid droplets at freezing conditions. The accuracy of this model is validated by its successful prediction of the experimental findings that demonstrate that superhydrophobic surfaces can fully prevent the freezing of impacting water droplets down to surface temperatures of as low as -20 to -25 °C. The model can be used to study the influence of surface morphology, surface chemistry, and fluid and thermal properties on dynamic ice formation and identify parameters critical to achieving icephobic surfaces. The framework of the present work is the first detailed modeling tool developed for the design and analysis of surfaces for various ice prevention/reduction strategies.     

Self-propelled swimming droplets

Self-propelled droplets are a class of active matter systems composed of one fluid dispersed in another immiscible fluid. Despite the inherent spherical symmetry in the initial droplet shape and composition, self-propulsion in these systems is achieved by a spontaneous symmetry-breaking bifurcation. Either a chemical reaction, micelle-induced solubilization, or a phase transition may induce gradients in the interfacial tension, generating a Marangoni convection and thereby resulting in self-propulsion. The simplicity associated with these self-propelled droplet systems makes them excellent candidates for investigating the solitary and collective behaviour of several biological swimmers, ranging from single-celled bacteria to school of fishes. Additionally, due to their tunable mobility characteristics, these swimmers have immense potential as smart materials designed to execute intricate tasks in microscopic domains. In this review, we present state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical research relevant to self-propelled swimming droplets.     

Dielectrophoresis-based programmable fluidic processors

Droplet-based programmable processors promise to offer solutions to a wide range of applications in which chemical and biological analysis and/or small-scale synthesis are required, suggesting they will become the microfluidic equivalents of microprocessors by offering off-the-shelf solutions for almost any fluid based analysis or small scale synthesis problem. A general purpose droplet processor should be able to manipulate droplets of different compositions (including those that are electrically conductive or insulating and those of polar or non-polar nature), to control reagent titrations accurately, and to remain free of contamination and carry over on its reaction surfaces. In this article we discuss the application of dielectrophoresis to droplet based processors and demonstrate that it can provide the means for accurately titrating, moving and mixing polar or non-polar droplets whether they are electrically conductive or not. DEP does not require contact with control surfaces and several strategies for minimizing surface contact are presented. As an example of a DEP actuated general purpose droplet processor, we show an embodiment based on a scaleable CMOS architecture that uses DEP manipulation on a 32 x 32 electrode array having built-in control and switching circuitry. Lastly, we demonstrate the concept of a general-purpose programming environment that facilitates droplet software development for any type of droplet processor.     

Droplet on a liquid substrate: Wetting,dewetting, dynamics,instabilities

Droplets on a liquid substrate (‘liquid lenses’) play an important role in various branches of engineering, including microfluidics, chemical engineering, environment protection, etc. In the present paper, we discuss basic phenomena characteristic for liquid lenses. We recall classical results on the shape of an equilibrium droplet and the kinds of droplet wetting. We overview briefly the main theoretical approaches used for the analysis of droplet dynamics, discuss the phenomena accompanying a droplet impact, physical effects used for droplet manipulations, and the factors that determine the interaction between droplets. We describe the main types of droplet instabilities leading to oscillations, self-propulsion, and disintegration of droplets. Some promising directions of further research are listed.     

Wetting phenomena on micro-grooved aluminum surfaces and modeling of the critical droplet size

The behavior of water droplets on aluminum surfaces with parallel grooves tens of microns in width and depth is considered, and a mechanistic model is developed for predicting the critical droplet size-droplets at incipient sliding due to gravity. The critical droplet size is nearly 50% smaller on micro-grooved surfaces than on the same surface without micro-grooves. The application of existing models fails to predict this behavior, and a new model based on empiricism is developed. The new model provides reasonable predictions of the critical droplet size for a given inclination angle, advancing contact angle, and maximum contact angle. When the grooves are aligned parallel to gravity, the maximum apparent contact angle does not occur at the advancing front but rather along the side of the droplet because of contact-line pinning. Droplets on these surfaces are elongated and possess a parallel-sided base contour shape. Novel data are provided for droplets in a Wenzel state, a Cassie-Baxter state, and combined state on micro-grooved surfaces, and the ability of the empirical model to handle these variations is explored. These findings may be important to a broad range of engineering applications.     

Shear-induced coalescence of emulsified oil drops

Crude oil droplets, when suspended in water, possess negative surface charges which give rise to double-layer repulsive forces between the drops. According to conventional DLVO theory, the magnitude of this repulsion (based on the measured zeta potential) is more than sufficient to prevent coalescence of the droplets. Indeed, when two such droplets were brought together on direct (i.e., "head-on") approach, coalescence was rarely observed. Upon oblique approach, however, the same droplets were seen to coalesce readily. An oblique encounter must necessarily give rise to lateral relative motion-or shearing-between the droplet surfaces. It is speculated that, if the charge distributions at the droplet surfaces were heterogeneous, lateral shearing would facilitate many encounters between surface patches of different zeta potentials across the intervening water film. If the repulsion across any local region were sufficiently weak to allow formation of an oil bridge across the water film, coalescence of the drops would follow inevitably. With the hypothesis of surface heterogeneity, it is not necessary to invoke any additional colloidal interactions (such as "hydrophobic forces") to account for the observed droplet-droplet coalescence. This finding may have important implications for the underlying mechanisms of emulsion stability in general and the commercial extraction of bitumen from oil sands in particular.     

Dynamic effects of bouncing water droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces

Superhydrophobic surfaces have considerable technological potential for various applications due to their extreme water repellent properties. Superhydrophobic surfaces may be generated by the use of hydrophobic coating, roughness, and air pockets between solid and liquid. Dynamic effects, such as the bouncing of a droplet, can destroy the composite solid-air-liquid interface. The relationship between the impact velocity of a droplet and the geometric parameters affects the transition from the solid-air-liquid interface to the solid-liquid interface. Therefore, it is necessary to study the dynamic effect of droplets under various impact velocities. We studied the dynamic impact behavior of water droplets on micropatterned silicon surfaces with pillars of two different diameters and heights and with varying pitch values. A criterion for the transition from the Cassie and Baxter regime to the Wenzel regime based on the relationship between the impact velocity and the parameter of patterned surfaces is proposed. The trends are explained based on the experimental data and the proposed transition criterion. For comparison, the dynamic impact behavior of water droplets on nanopatterned surfaces was investigated. The wetting behavior under various impact velocities on multiwalled nanotube arrays also was investigated. The physics of wetting phenomena for bouncing water droplet studies here is of fundamental importance in the geometrical design of superhydrophobic surfaces.     

Induced detachment of coalescing droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces

Coalescence of a falling droplet with a stationary sessile droplet on a superhydrophobic surface is investigated by a combined experimental and numerical study. In the experiments, the droplet diameter, the impact velocity, and the distance between the impacting droplets were controlled. The evolution of surface shape during the coalescence of two droplets on the superhydrophobic surface is captured using high speed imaging and compared with numerical results. A two-phase volume of fluid (VOF) method is used to determine the dynamics of droplet coalescence, shape evaluation, and contact line movement. The spread length of two coalesced droplets along their original center is also predicted by the model and compared well with the experimental results. The effect of different parameters such as impact velocity, center to center distance, and droplet size on contact time and restitution coefficient are studied and compared to the experimental results. Finally, the wetting and the self-cleaning properties of superhydrophobic surfaces have been investigated. It has been found that impinging water drops with very small amount of kinetic impact energy were able to thoroughly clean these surfaces.