Actuation of Janus Emulsion Droplets via Optothermally Induced Marangoni Forces

Sara Nagelberg, Jan F. Totz, Matthäus Mittasch, Vishnu Sresht, Lukas Zeininger, Timothy M. Swager, Moritz Kreysing, and Mathias Kolle
Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 144503 – Published 29 September 2021
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Abstract

Microscale Janus emulsions represent a versatile material platform for dynamic refractive, reflective, and light-emitting optical components. Here, we present a mechanism for droplet actuation that exploits thermocapillarity. Using optically induced thermal gradients, an interfacial tension differential is generated across the surfactant-free internal capillary interface of Janus droplets. The interfacial tension differential causes droplet-internal Marangoni flows and a net torque, resulting in a predictable and controllable reorientation of the droplets. The effect can be quantitatively described with a simple model that balances gravitational and thermal torques. Occurring in small thermal gradients, these optothermally induced Marangoni dynamics represent a promising mechanism for controlling droplet-based micro-optical components.

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  • Received 11 May 2021
  • Accepted 17 August 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.144503

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Fluid DynamicsNonlinear DynamicsAtomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

Sara Nagelberg1, Jan F. Totz1,2, Matthäus Mittasch3,4, Vishnu Sresht5, Lukas Zeininger6,7, Timothy M. Swager6, Moritz Kreysing3,8, and Mathias Kolle1,*

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
  • 2Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
  • 3Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
  • 4Dewpoint Therapeutics GmbH, 01307 Dresden, Germany
  • 5Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
  • 6Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
  • 7Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
  • 8Center for Systems Biology Dresden and Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technical University, 01307 Dresden, Germany

  • *Corresponding author. mkolle@mit.edu

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Issue

Vol. 127, Iss. 14 — 1 October 2021

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