Directed transport and control of droplets is essential for many modern technologies. Here, we propose an active control mode that combines corona discharge and contact electrification to efficiently drive the droplet or droplet group in a directed manner. In particular, we also implement a continuous coalescence of droplets, similar to dominoes. Moreover, due to the high adhesion effect caused by contact electrification, the droplet can stick on a slope without sliding down, even when the corona discharge is turned off. Interestingly, it can easily slide down when a conductor is nearby. Therefore, a droplet climbing, braking, and downhill system can be realized, and the gravitational potential energy stored by the droplet can be effectively regulated by the applied voltage. This work opens the possibility of droplet manipulation in modern applications such as miniaturized energy storage, biochemical medicine, and self-cleaning.
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7 August 2023
Research Article|
August 08 2023
Droplet actuation by coupling corona discharge and contact electrification: Domino coalescence and uphill braking
Special Collection:
Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Ye Tian
;
Ye Tian
(Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Visualization, Writing – original draft)
1
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
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Hong Wang
;
Hong Wang
a)
(Supervision, Writing – review & editing)
1
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
2
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: hongwang@cqu.edu.cn and lqzx@cqu.edu.cn. Tel.: +86-023-65102474
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Yuchen Tian
;
Yuchen Tian
(Conceptualization)
1
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
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Xun Zhu
;
Xun Zhu
(Resources, Supervision)
1
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
2
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
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Rong Chen
;
Rong Chen
(Supervision)
1
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
2
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
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Yudong Ding
;
Yudong Ding
(Supervision)
1
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
2
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
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Qiang Liao
Qiang Liao
a)
(Resources, Supervision)
1
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
2
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University
, Chongqing 400030, China
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: hongwang@cqu.edu.cn and lqzx@cqu.edu.cn. Tel.: +86-023-65102474
Search for other works by this author on:
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: hongwang@cqu.edu.cn and lqzx@cqu.edu.cn. Tel.: +86-023-65102474
Appl. Phys. Lett. 123, 064102 (2023)
Article history
Received:
May 22 2023
Accepted:
July 28 2023
Citation
Ye Tian, Hong Wang, Yuchen Tian, Xun Zhu, Rong Chen, Yudong Ding, Qiang Liao; Droplet actuation by coupling corona discharge and contact electrification: Domino coalescence and uphill braking. Appl. Phys. Lett. 7 August 2023; 123 (6): 064102. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0159239
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