Remotely controllable liquid marbles.

Zhang L, Cha D, Wang P.

Adv Mater. 2012 Sep 11;24(35):4756-60.

Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Chemical and Life Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.

 

Abstract

Liquid droplets encapsulated by self-organized hydrophobic particles at the liquid/air interface – liquid marbles – are prepared by encapsulating water droplets with novel core/shell-structured responsive magnetic particles, consisting of a responsive block copolymer-grafted mesoporous silica shell and magnetite core (see figure; P2VP-b-PDMS: poly(2-vinylpyridine-b-dimethylsiloxane)). Desirable properties of the liquid marbles include that they rupture upon ultraviolet illumination and can be remotely manipulated by an external magnetic field.

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Additional Information

The liquid marble technology was an extension of the block-copolymer grafting strategy previously developed by Professor Wang’s group, which was published on NPG Asia Materials (the title of the paper is: Smart surfaces with switchable superoleophilicity and superoleophobicity in aqueous media: toward controllable oil/water separation) (http://www.nature.com/am/journal/v4/n2/full/am201214a.html). The technology was highlighted by Discovery News (http://news.discovery.com/tech/making-remote-controlled-water-droplets-120911.htm) and Nature Middle East (http://www.nature.com/nmiddleeast/2012/121112/full/nmiddleeast.2012.159.html and http://www.nature.com/nmiddleeast/2012/120311/full/nmiddleeast.2012.31.html)

Both technologies were protected by US patents and Professor Wang welcomes any collaboration on potential commercialization of these technologies. More information about Professor Wang’s research can be found at: http://faculty.kaust.edu.sa/sites/pengwang.