Liquid Metal Solves a Maze by Recapillarity скачать в хорошем качестве

Liquid Metal Solves a Maze by Recapillarity

Researchers at NC State have developed a new method to remove liquid metal from microfluidic channels utilizing voltage. It provides a simple way to change the shape (and therefore function) of metals, which are important in electronics, optics, and in microsystems. The liquid metal here is composed primarily of gallium. Unlike Hg, these metals are considered to have low toxicity. The surface of gallium reacts with air to form a thin, oxide 'skin'. Like a water bed, this skin surrounds and supports the shape of the liquid metal. Removing the skin causes it to flow and bead up to minimize its surface energy. In this video, a small voltage applied to the metal (relative to a counter electrode) removes the oxide by electrochemical reactions. Removal of the oxide causes the metal to withdraw from microchannels (small tubes) and can even allow it to solve a maze because it withdraws along the electrical path. The term "recapillarity" refers to the use of electrochemical "reduction" to cause "capillary" action. It also refers to the ability to turn on and off capillary flow multiple times by turning on and off the voltage. This simple approach allows control over the flow and shape of liquid metals within microchannels. The paper, "Recapillarity: Electrochemically Controlled Capillary Withdrawal of a Liquid Metal Alloy from Microchannels" is published online in Advanced Functional Materials For more information, visit the website of the journal. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10... The work was supported by the National Science Foundation. Dickey Research Group: http://www.che.ncsu.edu/dickeygroup/