Abstract
This invention disclosure describes recent studies on moving and controlling drops of water on superhydrophobic surfaces through the use of magnetic fields, paramagnetic particles, and surface morphology. The following basic functions for a droplet microfluidic system that we have already demonstrated are: (1) placing a drop with paramagnetic particles on a superhydrophobic surface using a magnetic field to keep it from sliding off; (2) moving a drop that contains paramagnetic particles at up to very high speed due to the ultralow friction of the superhydrophobic surface and by moving the magnetic field; (3) using a surface defect, such as a small break of the nanotextured surface or removal of the hydrophobic chemical coating, an aqueous drop can be held on the surface due to pinning; (4) combining two or more water drops at a time - drops can contain paramagnetic particles or be held in place by pinning; (5) a water drop that does not contain paramagnetic particles can be combined with one that does thu
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| State | Published - Sep 12 2005 |