Dynamically Actuated Liquid‐Infused Poroelastic Film with Precise Control over Droplet Dynamics

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Advanced Functional Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201802632· OSTI ID:1462780

Oh, Inkyu ^[1]; Keplinger, Christoph ^[2]; Cui, Jiaxi ^[3]; Chen, Jiehao ^[1]; Whitesides, George M. ^[4]; Aizenberg, Joanna ^[5]; Hu, Yuhang ^[6]

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1. Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana IL 61801 USA
2. Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Colorado Boulder CO 80309 USA, Materials Science and Engineering Program University of Colorado Boulder CO 80309 USA
3. INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials Campus D2 2 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
4. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Harvard University Cambridge MA 02318 USA, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Harvard University Cambridge MA 02138 USA, Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology Harvard University Cambridge MA 02138 USA
5. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Harvard University Cambridge MA 02318 USA, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Harvard University Cambridge MA 02138 USA, Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology Harvard University Cambridge MA 02138 USA, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University Cambridge MA 02138 USA
6. Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana IL 61801 USA, The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA

Abstract Traditional dynamic adaptive materials rely on an atomic/molecular mechanism of phase transition to induce macroscopic switch of properties, but only a small number of these materials and a limited responsive repertoire are available. Here, liquid as the adaptive component is utilized to realize responsive functions. Paired with a porous matrix that can be put in motion by an actuated dielectric elastomer film, the uncontrolled global flow of liquid is broken down to well‐defined reconfigurable localized flow within the pores and conforms to the network deformation. A detailed theoretical and experimental study of such a dynamically actuated liquid‐infused poroelastic film is discussed. This system demonstrates its ability to generate tunable surface wettability that can precisely control droplet dynamics from complete pinning, to fast sliding, and even more complex motions such as droplet oscillation, jetting, and mixing. This system also allows for repeated and seamless switch among these different droplet manipulations. These are desired properties in many applications such as reflective display, lab‐on‐a‐chip, optical device, dynamic measurements, energy harvesting, and others.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: DE‐SC0005247
• OSTI ID: 1462780
• Journal Information: Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Functional Materials Vol. 28 Journal Issue: 39; ISSN 1616-301X
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English