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Adhesion

Adhesion

Adhesion occurs when one type of molecule is attracted to a different molecule. Water exhibits adhesive properties in the presence of polar surfaces, such as glass or cellulose in plants. For instance, when water is poured into a glass, the positively charged hydrogen molecules of water are more attracted to the negatively charged oxygen molecules in the silica than to the oxygen in neighboring water molecules.
Capillary action is a result of water’s adhesive tendencies. When a narrow...

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Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy

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Published on: January 29, 2022

Controlling adhesion using AC electric fields across fluid films.

Carla S Perez-Martinez¹, Timothy S Groves², Susan Perkin²

¹London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AH, United Kingdom.

Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal

|May 21, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers used AC electric fields to control adhesion between surfaces separated by ionic fluid. This demonstrates precise, switchable control over surface interactions using external fields.

Keywords:

adhesion electric fields ionic liquid surface forces

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Area of Science:

Surface science
Tribology
Nanotechnology

Background:

Controlling adhesion between surfaces is crucial for micro/nanoscale devices.
Existing methods for adhesion control can be limited in precision and reversibility.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate reversible and switchable control of surface adhesion using AC electric fields.
To investigate the influence of AC electric fields on the structural forces between surfaces separated by ionic fluid.

Main Methods:

Utilizing a surface force balance to measure adhesive force and surface separation with sub-molecular resolution.
Applying AC electric fields normal to a crossed-cylinder contact immersed in ionic fluid.

Main Results:

Achieved reversible and switchable actuation, bringing surfaces into and out of adhesive contact.
Demonstrated precise tuning of distinct, quantized adhesive states by adjusting the AC electric field.
Confirmed that the oscillatory structural force between surfaces remained unaffected by the AC field.

Conclusions:

Exquisite control over surface interactions is achievable using external AC electric fields.
This work presents a proof-of-concept for field-tunable adhesion in nanoscale systems.
Potential applications in tunable adhesives, micro-actuators, and responsive surfaces.