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Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
Published on: May 20, 2018
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Optically induced motion of liquid crystalline droplets
Yoshiharu Dogishi1, Yota Sakai1, Woon Yong Sohn1
1Department of Applied Chemistry, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan. kkata@kc.chuo-u.ac.jp.
Soft Matter
|September 14, 2018
Summary
Active liquid crystalline droplets were controlled to move towards UV light in a surfactant solution. This movement is driven by UV-induced surfactant desorption, creating a Marangoni flow.
Area of Science:
- Soft Matter Physics
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Liquid crystalline active droplets exhibit complex behaviors.
- Surfactant-laden interfaces are crucial in controlling droplet dynamics.
- Photochemical reactions can alter interfacial properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate controlled motion of liquid crystalline active droplets.
- To investigate the effect of UV light on droplet behavior.
- To elucidate the mechanism behind UV-induced droplet movement.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of liquid crystalline active droplets.
- Observation of droplet motion on a glass substrate under UV irradiation.
- Analysis of interfacial phenomena and fluid flow (Marangoni flow).
Main Results:
- Controlled, directional motion of the droplet towards the UV light source was achieved.
- The droplet exhibited rolling motion on the substrate.
- The motion was attributed to Marangoni flow.
Conclusions:
- UV light can precisely control the motion of liquid crystalline active droplets.
- Marangoni flow, driven by UV-induced surfactant desorption, is the underlying mechanism.
- This provides a pathway for designing light-actuated soft matter systems.
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