Nanowerk August 24, 2022
Light control of droplets enables remote and contactless control with remarkable spatial and temporal accuracy. However, their performance, and reliability are challenging. Researchers in China have developed a new smart material with photo-induced charge regeneration capability, enabling light control of droplets with superior performance and reliability. The smart material contains three core components: micro-size liquid metal particles with superior photothermal and thermally conductive properties; polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene copolymer with excellent ferroelectric and mechanical behaviors; and micro-pyramidal structures and low-surface-energy coatings of fluorinated SiO2 nanoparticles for enhancing the superamphiphobicity. The photo-induced charged surfaces (PICSs) possess a superior capability of real-time and in-situ photo-induced charge generation upon exposure to light illumination. PICS exhibited no apparent degradation even in extreme environments including high relative humidity for 72 hours and high temperature (70 °C). The charge density of the PICS remained at stably high levels even after 10,000 ON/OFF irradiation cycles….read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Schematic illustrations of light control of droplet. Credit: DU Xuemin