On-Chip Production of Size-Controllable Liquid Metal Microdroplets Using Acoustic Waves.

ABSTRACT: Micro- to nanosized droplets of liquid metals, such as eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) and Galinstan, have been used for developing a variety of applications in flexible electronics, sensors, catalysts, and drug delivery systems. Currently used methods for producing micro- to nanosized droplets of such liquid metals possess one or several drawbacks, including the lack in ability to control the size of the produced droplets, mass produce droplets, produce smaller droplet sizes, and miniaturize the system. Here, a novel method is introduced using acoustic wave-induced forces for on-chip production of EGaIn liquid-metal microdroplets with controllable size. The size distribution of liquid metal microdroplets is tuned by controlling the interfacial tension of the metal using either electrochem

SUBMITTER: Tang SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6311111 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature