Ferrofluidic manipulator for particles and droplets
Magnetic manipulation is a widely used method for manipulating small objects that are magnetic. However, most objects in nature and our lives are not magnetic.
Ferrofluids are liquids containing magnetic nanoparticles that deform under the influence of magnetic fields. By precisely controlling the magnetic fields, we can control the surface of ferrofluid making it a soft hand that can manipulate a wide range of objects that are not magnetic, both solid and liquid.
In this research, we discovered for trapping nonmagnetic particles besides pushing them. We have also developed a that can manipulate nonmagnetic particles on the air-liquid interface. The ferrofluid manipulator is versatile with the materials and the shapes of the objects under manipulation. We have successfully manipulated particles made of polyethylene, polystyrene, a silicon chip, and poppy and sesame seeds.
We can also use the ferrofluidic manipulator to on an air鈭抐errofluid interface with programmable deformation. We can control the aspect ratio of the ellipse and generate repeatable quasi-static shapes of a hexadecane oil droplet. We can rotate droplets and stir liquids into spiral-like structures. We can also shape phase-changing liquids and fabricate shape-programmed thin films at the air鈭抐errofluid interface.
Selected publications:
- Cenev, Zoran; Harischandra, P. A. Diluka; Nurmi, Seppo; Latikka, Mika; Hyninen, Ville; Ras, Robin A.; Timonen, Jaakko V.I.; Zhou, Quan, "", IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 26(4), pp. 1932-1940, 2021.
- Cenev, Z., W眉rger, A. and Zhou, Q., 鈥溾, Physical Review E, 103, L010601, 2021.
- Cenev, Z.M., Havu, V., Timonen, J.V. and Zhou, Q., "", IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 28(5), pp. 2679-2689, 2023.
- Harischandra, P.D., Va虉lisalmi, T., Cenev, Z.M., Linder, M.B. and Zhou, Q., "", Langmuir, 39(22), pp. 7623鈥7631, 2023.