Programmable Control of Droplets on Phase-Change Lubricant-Infused Surfaces Under Low Voltage
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Surfaces with special wettability have attracted extensive attention due to their wide range of technological impacts in resources, environment, energy, and health. Inspired by human skin sweating in response to heat, a new bioinspired phase change transparent flexible heater (PTFH). By embedding a self-junctioned nano-metal network into the phase change materials infused with porous gel matrix, programmable mobility control of microdroplets can be achieved in a non-contact, fast, and stable way by applying an ultra-low input voltage. By imitating the unique geometric gradient structure on the surface of living organisms, the PTFH can be bent or clipped to achieve programmable mobility control of droplets in different styles and dimensions. The work provides a novel surface design for droplet manipulation, which can be extended to microreactors, matter transfer, microengines, and smart windows.
Source: Lubricants
Authors: Lingjie Sun, Chunlei Gao, Wei Li
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4411427973