Science Daily March 16, 2023
An international team of researchers (United Arab Emirates, Macedonia, University of New York) found that the gradual widening of parallel microchannels on a surface of a slowly subliming hexachlorobenzene crystal can promote the autonomous and bidirectional transduction of condensed aerial water. Driven by topology changes on the surface of the crystal and water exchange with the gas phase, droplets of condensed water migrate over the crystal. These droplets are also able to transport silver particles and other particulate matter, such as dust. The velocity of the particles was shown to be dependent on both the sublimation rate of the crystal and the relative humidity of its environment. According to the researchers, sublimation-powered water flow demonstrates that topological surface changes accompanying crystal phase transitions can be harnessed to transport liquid and solid matter over surfaces… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Topology and transport of AgMPs across the (001) surface of a naturally grown crystal of HCB. Credit: Nature Chemistry (2023)Â