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A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation and Reduction

Controlling interfacial tension is an effective method for manipulating the shape, position, and flow of fluids at sub-millimeter length scales, where ...

North Carolina State University

We present a method to control the interfacial tension of a liquid alloy of gallium via electrochemical deposition (or removal) of the oxide layer on its surface. In sharp contrast with conventional surfactants, this method provides unprecedented lowering of surface tension (∼ 500 mJ/m(2) to near zero) using very low voltage, and the change is completely reversible. This dramatic change in the interfacial tension enables a variety of electrohydrodynamic phenomena. The ability to manipulate the interfacial properties of the metal promises rich opportunities in shape-reconfigurable metallic components in electronic, electromagnetic, and microfluidic devices without the use of toxic mercury. This work suggests that the wetting properties of surface oxides--which are ubiquitous on most metals and semiconductors--are intrinsic "surfactants." The inherent asymmetric nature of the surface coupled with the ability to actively manipulate its energetics is expected to have important applications in electrohydrodynamics, composites, and melt processing of oxide-forming materials.

Collin B. Eaker

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

North Carolina State University

A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation and Reduction

Collin B. Eaker

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

North Carolina State University

A Method to Manipulate Surface Tension of a Liquid Metal via Surface Oxidation and Reduction

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering