Contactless,spatiotemporal droplet maneuvering plays a critical role in a wide array of applications,including drug delivery,microfluidics,and water harvesting.Despite considerable advancements,challenges persist in t...Contactless,spatiotemporal droplet maneuvering plays a critical role in a wide array of applications,including drug delivery,microfluidics,and water harvesting.Despite considerable advancements,challenges persist in the precise transportation,split-ting,controlled steering,and functional adaptability of droplets when manipulated by electrical means.Here,we propose the use of orbital electrowetting(OEW)on slippery surfaces to enable versatile droplet maneuvering under a variety of condi-tions.The asymmetric electrowetting force that is generated allows highly efficient droplet manipulation on these surfaces.Our results demonstrate that droplets can be split,merged,and steered with exceptional flexibility,precision,and high velocity,even against gravity.Additionally,the OEW technique facilitates the manipulation of droplets across different compositions,volumes,and arrays in complex environments,leaving no residue.This novel droplet maneuvering mechanism and control strategy are poised to impact a range of applications,from chemical reactions and self-cleaning to efficient condensation and water harvesting.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:52276146International Science and Technology Cooperation Plan of Liaoning Province,Grant/Award Number:2023JH2/10700001Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Grant/Award Number:DUT22YG108。
文摘Contactless,spatiotemporal droplet maneuvering plays a critical role in a wide array of applications,including drug delivery,microfluidics,and water harvesting.Despite considerable advancements,challenges persist in the precise transportation,split-ting,controlled steering,and functional adaptability of droplets when manipulated by electrical means.Here,we propose the use of orbital electrowetting(OEW)on slippery surfaces to enable versatile droplet maneuvering under a variety of condi-tions.The asymmetric electrowetting force that is generated allows highly efficient droplet manipulation on these surfaces.Our results demonstrate that droplets can be split,merged,and steered with exceptional flexibility,precision,and high velocity,even against gravity.Additionally,the OEW technique facilitates the manipulation of droplets across different compositions,volumes,and arrays in complex environments,leaving no residue.This novel droplet maneuvering mechanism and control strategy are poised to impact a range of applications,from chemical reactions and self-cleaning to efficient condensation and water harvesting.
