Scientific Achievement
Introduced a fundamentally new mechanism responsible for inducing directional movement of droplets and discovered that liquid/liquid interfaces can serve as a dynamic platform storing energy through an oversaturation of excess charged nanoparticle-surfactants at the interface.
Significance and Impact
The newly developed method for self-propelling droplets enables controlled, directional movement, significantly enhancing the design flexibility of active droplet systems and demonstrating the vast potential of assemblies that operate out of equilibrium.
Research Details
- Electric field-induced axisymmetric and asymmetric explosive emulsification
- Fluorescent microscopy and interfacial tension measurements conform the interfacial oversaturation of nanoparticles under the electric field
- Self-propulsion generated by asymmetric explosive emulsification.
