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Evaporation-driven colloidal cluster assembly using droplets on superhydrophobic fractal-like structures
Carola Seyfert1, Erwin J W Berenschot2, Niels R Tas2
1Physics of Fluids Group, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mesa+ Institute, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. c.seyfert@utwente.nl a.marin@utwente.nl.
Soft Matter
|November 24, 2020
Summary
Researchers created diverse supra-particles from microparticles using controlled evaporation on superhydrophobic surfaces. This method simplifies the assembly of functional microparticle clusters.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
- Colloids and Surfaces
Background:
- Microparticles are fundamental building blocks for advanced functional systems.
- Assembling microparticles into larger structures often requires complex and specialized techniques.
- Developing simpler methods for microparticle assembly is crucial for technological advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a straightforward method for creating diverse macro-agglomerate clusters (supra-particles) from microparticles.
- To investigate the influence of initial particle concentration and evaporation rate on supra-particle formation.
- To explore the role of superhydrophobic surfaces with fractal-like microstructures in controlling assembly.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing evaporating droplets containing microparticles on robust superhydrophobic substrates with fractal-like microstructures.
- Systematically varying the initial microparticle concentration across three orders of magnitude.
- Controlling the evaporation rate of the droplets.
- Observing the resulting supra-particle structures using microscopy and analysis of wetting dynamics.
Main Results:
- A wide variety of supra-particle shapes and sizes were achieved by tuning initial particle concentration.
- A clear transition from quasi-2D to 3D clusters was observed with increasing particle concentration.
- A transition from unstable to stable 3D spheroids was observed with increasing evaporation rate.
- The fractal-like surface topography significantly reduced droplet contact, facilitating controlled assembly.
Conclusions:
- The proposed method offers a simple yet versatile approach to fabricating diverse supra-particles.
- The formation and stability of supra-particles are strongly dependent on particle concentration and evaporation dynamics.
- Superhydrophobic surfaces with specific microstructures are key enablers for controlled microparticle self-assembly.
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