Abstract / Description of output
An energy saving Leidenfrost levitation method is introduced to transport micro-droplets with virtually frictionless contact between the liquid and solid substrate. By micro-engineering the heating units, selective areas of the whole substrate can be electro-thermally activated. A droplet can be levitated as a result of the Leidenfrost effect, and further transported when the substrate is tilted slightly. The selective electro-heating produces a uniform temperature distribution on the heating units within 1 s, in response to a triggering voltage. Alongside these experimental observations, finite element simulations are conducted to understand the temperature profile of the selective heated substrate, and also generate phase diagrams to verify the Leidenfrost regime for different substrate materials. Finally, we demonstrate the possibility of controlling low friction high speed droplet transportation (~ 65 mm/s) when the substrate is tilted (~ 7 °) by structurally designing the substrate. This work establishes the basis for an entirely new approach to droplet microfluidics.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 22658-22663 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 34 |
Early online date | 16 Aug 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 31 Aug 2016 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Liquids
- Layers
- Silicon
- power
- Substrates
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Low friction droplet transportation on a substrate with a selective Leidenfrost effect'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Profiles
-
Glen McHale
- School of Engineering - Chair of Interfacial Science & Engineering
Person: Academic: Research Active