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Innovations in exploiting photo-controlled Marangoni flows for soft matter actuations
Chalikkara Farzeena1, Thamarasseril Vijayan Vinay2, Bindhu Sunilkumar Lekshmi3
1Sunita Sanghi Centre of Ageing and Neurodegenerative Diseases (SCAN), IIT Bombay, India.
Soft Matter
|June 26, 2023
Summary
Light-activated surface tension modulation creates microscale Marangoni flows. These optically controlled flows enable precise manipulation of particles, droplets, and liquid marbles in microfluidics and soft matter applications.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Soft Matter Physics
- Surface Science
Background:
- Microscale flow generation is essential for microfluidics.
- Light offers non-contact, high-resolution control over microflows.
- Modulating surface tension is a key strategy for generating microflows.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review innovative light-based methods for modulating surface tension.
- To explore applications of photo-controlled Marangoni flows in soft matter and microfluidics.
- To highlight recent advancements in optically controlled flow systems.
Main Methods:
- Discussing photo-controlled Marangoni flow for particle patterning and assembly.
- Reviewing methods for actuating droplets and liquid marbles using light-induced surface tension gradients.
- Examining optically controlled flow-based reconfigurable optics and energy harvesting.
Main Results:
- Light-induced surface tension gradients effectively drive Marangoni flows.
- Photo-controlled Marangoni flows enable precise patterning and assembly of colloidal particles.
- Optically driven actuation of droplets and liquid marbles is demonstrated on various substrates.
Conclusions:
- Light-based surface tension modulation is a powerful tool in microfluidics.
- Photo-controlled Marangoni flows offer versatile applications in soft matter manipulation.
- Emerging trends include reconfigurable optics and energy harvesting using optically controlled flows.
