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A simple U‐shaped device with a superhydrophobic coating used to sort droplets by surface tension
Author(s) -
Feng Rui,
Li XinMing,
Wang Lin,
Li WanYuan,
Zhang YuPing
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the chinese chemical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.329
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 2192-6549
pISSN - 0009-4536
DOI - 10.1002/jccs.202100028
Subject(s) - surface tension , chemistry , microfluidics , goniometer , coating , contact angle , nanotechnology , tension (geology) , suspension (topology) , composite material , materials science , crystallography , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , homotopy , pure mathematics , ultimate tensile strength
Manipulation of droplets is an issue of great interest and challenge in microfluidics and chemical analysis domains. Herein, an ethanol suspension of beeswax and TiO 2 (25 ± 5 nm), and SiO 2 (7–40 nm) nanoparticles was sprayed on the surface of a self‐fabricated U‐shaped device. The resulted superhydrophobic coating enabled liquid droplets to roll back and forth in the groove of semicircular arc freely. According to the apparent difference of whole rolling distance, liquid droplets with less difference of surface tension were distinguished and sorted precisely. More importantly, the elegant analytical device was used to determine the surface tension for some typical food liquids and a relative error less than 5% was obtained, compared with the results measured by the contact angle goniometer. It could be used potentially as a simple, fast, and inexpensive diagnostic platform to sort liquid droplets and determine their surface tension values quantitatively.