Triboelectrically mediated self-assembly and manipulation of drops at an interface

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kaneelil, Paul R., de Souza, J. Pedro, Turk, Günther, Pahlavan, Amir A., Stone, Howard A.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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_version_ 1866929285830279168
author Kaneelil, Paul R.
de Souza, J. Pedro
Turk, Günther
Pahlavan, Amir A.
Stone, Howard A.
author_facet Kaneelil, Paul R.
de Souza, J. Pedro
Turk, Günther
Pahlavan, Amir A.
Stone, Howard A.
contents The fluid-fluid interface is a complex environment for a floating object where the statics and dynamics may be governed by capillarity, gravity, inertia, and other external body forces. Yet, the alignment of these forces in intricate ways might result in beautiful pattern formation and self-assembly of these objects, as in the case of bubble rafts or colloidal particles. While interfacial self-assembly has been explored widely, controlled manipulation of floating objects, e.g. drops, at the fluid-fluid interface still remains a challenge largely unexplored. In this work, we reveal the self-assembly and manipulation of water drops floating at an oil-air interface. We show that the assembly occurs due to electrostatic interactions between the drops and their environment. We highlight the role of the boundary surrounding the system by showing that even drops with a net zero electric charge can self-assemble under certain conditions. Using experiments and theory, we show that the depth of the oil bath plays an important role in setting the distance between the self-assembled drops. Furthermore, we demonstrate ways to manipulate the drops actively and passively at the interface.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_14055
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Triboelectrically mediated self-assembly and manipulation of drops at an interface
Kaneelil, Paul R.
de Souza, J. Pedro
Turk, Günther
Pahlavan, Amir A.
Stone, Howard A.
Fluid Dynamics
Soft Condensed Matter
The fluid-fluid interface is a complex environment for a floating object where the statics and dynamics may be governed by capillarity, gravity, inertia, and other external body forces. Yet, the alignment of these forces in intricate ways might result in beautiful pattern formation and self-assembly of these objects, as in the case of bubble rafts or colloidal particles. While interfacial self-assembly has been explored widely, controlled manipulation of floating objects, e.g. drops, at the fluid-fluid interface still remains a challenge largely unexplored. In this work, we reveal the self-assembly and manipulation of water drops floating at an oil-air interface. We show that the assembly occurs due to electrostatic interactions between the drops and their environment. We highlight the role of the boundary surrounding the system by showing that even drops with a net zero electric charge can self-assemble under certain conditions. Using experiments and theory, we show that the depth of the oil bath plays an important role in setting the distance between the self-assembled drops. Furthermore, we demonstrate ways to manipulate the drops actively and passively at the interface.
title Triboelectrically mediated self-assembly and manipulation of drops at an interface
topic Fluid Dynamics
Soft Condensed Matter
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.14055