Experimental Study on the Performance of Light-Controlled Ion Drag Pump Based on PLZT Ceramic
Yujuan Tang1, Yujie Shi2, Zhen Lv2
1School of Intelligent Science and Control Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211169, China.
Micromachines
|January 28, 2026
Summary
This study presents a novel light-controlled ion drag pump using PLZT ceramic for efficient fluid transport. Optimizing design and light intensity significantly boosts pumping performance in microfluidic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Fluid Dynamics
- Robotics
Background:
- Light-controlled ion drag pumps offer non-contact energy transfer for soft robotics and MEMS.
- Limited experimental data exists on their performance and influencing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and fabricate a light-controlled ion drag pump using PLZT ceramic.
- To investigate the key factors influencing its pumping performance.
Main Methods:
- Integration of photoelectric and field emission effects.
- Fabrication of a pump using lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramic.
- Systematic experimental investigation of pumping performance under varying conditions.
Main Results:
- Optimized electrode structure and fluid channel design enhance pumping.
- Increased light intensity significantly improves fluid transport.
- Demonstrated non-contact energy transfer and fluid manipulation via laser irradiation.
Conclusions:
- The developed PLZT-based light-controlled ion drag pump shows promising performance.
- Design optimization is crucial for maximizing pumping efficiency.
- Provides guidelines for applications in microfluidics, flexible robotics, and thermal management.
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