Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xifan Fu, Qinpeng Zhu, Denghui Liu, Binghan Liu, Lintao Kuang, Yanhui Feng, Fuqiang Chu, Zhi Huang
Summary: A study on moisture condensation on hybrid superhydrophobic-hydrophilic surfaces revealed the significant impact of wettability difference and microstructure size on condensation efficiency, leading to a 90% enhancement in condensation rate. Detailed analysis of the condensation process provided insights into the enhanced condensation mechanism, proposing effective methods for controlling and optimizing moisture condensation.
Article
Thermodynamics
Hai Wang, Xin Zhao, Junfeng Wang, Zhentao Wang, Dongbao Wang, Jiameng Tian
Summary: The study developed superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic hybrid surfaces for enhancing condensation heat transfer on copper substrates. The synergistic combination of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces was effective in improving droplet nucleation rate, coalescence control, and condensate removal efficiency. Experimental results showed that the SSH-2 surface outperformed the SSH-3 and SSH-1 surfaces in heat transfer performance, with a heat transfer coefficient 1.1 and 1.3 times higher at a surface subcooling of 7.1 K, respectively.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shiqi Zhou, Amin Bakhshandeh
Summary: We utilized classical Density Functional Theory (cDFT) and Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the interaction between heterogeneously charged surfaces in an electrolyte solution. Our study showed consistent behavior between cDFT and Monte Carlo simulations in terms of force curves and two-dimensional density profiles. By using the validated cDFT, we explored the effects of challenging-to-simulate parameters on the system's behavior, including domain size, domain charge, domain charge configuration, and bulk electrolyte concentration. Notably, the force curve was found to be more sensitive to domain size in an asymmetric configuration, while the bulk concentration had a weak influence on the force curve regardless of the system's configurations.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Myoung Hun Han, Jae Sung Yang, Jun Seok Lee, June Kee Min
Summary: A numerical study was conducted to investigate the condensation phenomenon in a vertical channel with hydrophilic-hydrophobic patterned surfaces. The Volume of Fluid method was used to detect the phase interface and the Lee's phase-change model was adopted. An Artificial Neural Network model was constructed to predict the heat transfer coefficient and validated using experimental data. The results showed that the pattern size, angle, and channel height had significant effects on heat transfer augmentation and pressure drop.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Seunghwan Lee, Jaeseon Lee
Summary: This study investigates the condensation characteristics of humid air on a bi-philic patterned surface with alternating super-hydrophilic/hydrophobic zones. It is observed that film condensation occurs on a completely super-hydrophilic surface, and dropwise condensation occurs on a hydrophobic surface. The bi-philic patterned surface optimized in this study showed increased condensate discharge by 21.25% compared to the super-hydrophilic surface and 76.36% compared to the hydrophobic surface.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xin Tang, Wei Li, Liqiu Wang
Summary: A study reveals that droplets on piezoelectric crystal planes can self-propel in various directed motions without the need for chemical inhomogeneity or topological anisotropy. This effect is attributed to anisotropic crystalline structures and has broad applications in different fields.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huy Tran, Ziwen He, Pooria Pirdavari, Min Y. Pack
Summary: In order to improve the efficiency of Dynamic Wetting Condensation (DWC), researchers have been studying the distribution of droplets on the condensing surface. This study investigates the relationship between droplet shedding mechanisms and surface wettability patterning. By varying the area fraction and width of the DWC region, the study reveals changes in droplet shedding mechanisms. The results show that the sliding drop radii decrease with increasing DWC region width, while the jumping drop radii remain unchanged.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Songtao Hu, Xiaobao Cao, Tom Reddyhoff, Xi Shi, Zhike Peng, Andrew J. deMello, Daniele Dini
Summary: A flexibility-patterned design is proposed to enhance liquid repellency and accelerate liquid evaporation in this study, bridging the gap between rigidity-based and flexibility-based strategies in liquid-repelling applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
Xiangting Chang, Haibo Huang, Xi-Yun Lu, Jian Hou
Summary: The width effect on contact angle hysteresis in a microchannel with patterned heterogeneous surfaces is systematically investigated. The results show that the number of equilibrium configurations increases linearly with the microchannel width and has a quadratic relationship with the cosine of the reference contact angle and the heterogeneity strength. The contact angle hysteresis can be divided into individual-effect-dominated hysteresis and collective-effect-dominated hysteresis.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Siqi Qian, Han Wu, Bin Huang, Qi Liu, Yan Chen, Bo Zheng
Summary: This study presents a method for sub-micron resolution patterning of perfluorinated surfaces and its application in digital immunoassays without beads. By using negative microcontact printing and a composite stamp, polydopamine patterns are successfully fabricated on perfluorinated surfaces, enabling the creation of microspot arrays for digital assays. The high-resolution polydopamine patterned perfluorinated substrate offers a highly-sensitive and low-cost approach for digital immunoassays, showing great potential in high-throughput and digital bioassays.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Szu-Hao Cho, Piljae Joo, Chi Zhang, Elizabeth A. Lewis, Bryan D. Vogt, Nicole S. Zacharia
Summary: This study demonstrates a simple and practical approach to generate patterned slippery surfaces without the need for complex chemical modification. By preparing a super-hydrophobic base film and coating a BPEI patterning solution, a slippery surface with the ability to constrain liquid motion can be achieved.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Linghui Jing, Minghao Li, Yao Lu, Shuai Huang
Summary: Droplet-bubble interactions have a significant impact on various applications, but understanding the mechanisms and laws behind these interactions is a challenge due to the complex flow states. This study investigates the wetting mechanism, shape diffusion laws, and controlled impact of droplets on patterned surfaces and showcases the potential application of multilayer soap bubbles as microreactors.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Xiaoxue Shen, Yan Zhang, Huibin He, Chenglin Yi, Wenhao Dong, Shunsheng Ye, Di Zheng, Jing Tao, Qi Wu, Xiaozheng Duan, Zhihong Nie
Summary: This article investigates the adsorption behaviors of charged polymer-grafted hairy nanoparticles (HNPs) on oppositely charged substrates in different solvent media through a combination of experiments and simulations. The results show that the adsorption process of HNPs is influenced by the release of counterions around charged polymers, leading to a higher energy barrier compared to bare NPs. This energy barrier can be reduced by changing the dielectricity of solvents, the ionization degree of grafted polymers, or the ionic strength of the solution.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fang Wang, Meijin Liu, Cong Liu, Qilong Zhao, Ting Wang, Zuankai Wang, Xuemin Du
Summary: Slippery lubricant-infused porous (SLIPS) and superhydrophobic surfaces have emerged as promising interfacial materials. We developed a class of slippery material that harnesses the dual advantages of both solid and lubricant by constructing a photothermal-responsive composite matrix with real-time light-induced surface charge regeneration capability. The resulting light-induced charged slippery surface (LICS) allows for photocontrol of droplets with fast speed, long distance, antigravity motion, and directionally collective motion. The LICS is further extended to biomedical domains for specific morphological hydrogel bead formation and biological diagnosis and analysis.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Dohyung Kim, Sejin Jung, Jinkee Lee
Summary: The tribological interaction between patterned running surfaces and an ice track was investigated by analyzing the friction coefficient based on the patterned running surface type, ambient temperature, and rotational track velocity. The results were analyzed in terms of the structural characteristics of the patterned running surface and the water layer generated on it. It was found that the water layer acted as either a lubricant or a source of frictional resistance depending on the water layer ratio and the type of patterned running surfaces.
TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
A. Aggarwal, E. Kirkinis, M. Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: In this paper, it is theoretically established that viscous liquid droplets containing magnetic nanoparticles can deform and migrate under the influence of a magnetic torque. The collective rotation of the magnetic nanoparticles at the liquid-gas interface breaks the reflection symmetry, leading to droplet migration. This finding provides a new mechanism for the study of active surfaces.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chase Austyn Brisbois, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: The dynamic motion caused by precessing magnetic fields can lead to far-from-equilibrium states in matter. We predict the existence of 1D periodic ordering in systems of precessing rods when the magnetic interactions between rods are insignificant. The precession angle of the rods is determined by the field's precession angle and the ratio of the field's precession frequency to the characteristic response frequency of the rods. Our work, including molecular dynamics simulations and steric modeling, demonstrates how steric interactions drive rods from a disordered phase to a layered phase, and how minimizing unfavorable steric interactions leads to phase separation in binary mixtures. This research contributes to the understanding and control of out-of-equilibrium soft matter systems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yange Lin, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: Nanoparticles with highly asymmetric sizes and charges that self-assemble into crystals via electrostatics may exhibit behaviors reminiscent of those of metals or superionic materials. By using coarse-grained molecular simulations with underdamped Langevin dynamics, this study explores the reaction of a binary charged colloidal crystal to an external electric field. The results show transitions from insulator to superionic, laning, and complete melting as the field strength increases. In the superionic state, the resistivity decreases with increasing temperature, contrary to metals, but the increment decreases as the electric field becomes stronger. Furthermore, the dissipation of the system and the fluctuation of charge currents adhere to the thermodynamic uncertainty relation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Hang Yuan, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: In this study, the conventional Stokesian dynamics formalism was extended to incorporate the additional hydrodynamic effects due to odd viscosity, allowing for the simulation of collective behavior of many particles suspended in an active fluid medium with both even viscosity and odd viscosity.
PHYSICAL REVIEW FLUIDS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
E. Kirkinis, M. Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: Recent literature has shown that chiral particles driven by vorticity gradients can only separate in nonlinear or nonstationary flows. However, we demonstrate that even in the Stokes flow approximation, a base Newtonian liquid with rotational degrees of freedom can lead to chiral particle propulsion and separation. Active mechanisms such as magnetic torque, pressure gradient, and sliding wall in a channel generate spatially inhomogeneous vorticity, propelling chiral particles based on their handedness. This finding has applications in industry, biology, and medicine.
PHYSICAL REVIEW FLUIDS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Junpeng Wang, Tatiana B. Kouznetsova, Jianshe Xia, Felipe Jimenez Angeles, Monica Olvera de la Cruz, Stephen L. Craig
Summary: Single-molecule force spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying the properties of individual polymer strands. However, the weak attachment between the atomic force microscope tip and the analyte limits its efficiency. In this study, we developed a polyelectrolyte handle that provides strong attachment, high success rate, non-fouling detachment, and specific attachment locations along the polymer strand.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Curt Waltmann, Nolan W. W. Kennedy, Carolyn E. E. Mills, Eric W. W. Roth, Svetlana P. P. Ikonomova, Danielle Tullman-Ercek, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: An important goal of systems and synthetic biology is to produce high value chemical species in large quantities. Microcompartments, protein nanoshells encapsulating catalytic enzyme cargo, could potentially function as nanobioreactors inside and outside cells to generate these high value species. Modifying the morphology of microcompartments through genetic engineering of shell proteins is a viable strategy to tune cofactor and metabolite access to encapsulated enzymes, and this study provides guidance to control microcompartment size and assembly by modulating the interactions between shell proteins.
Article
Mechanics
E. Kirkinis, M. Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: This paper investigates the inertial waves and fluid flow behavior in odd viscous liquids. Numerical simulations and theoretical analysis reveal the existence of axially symmetric waves and plane-polarized waves in odd viscous liquids. Furthermore, it is found that odd viscosity leads to the formation of Taylor columns in steady motions, inhibits vortex stretching and twisting, and enhances vorticity in unsteady and nonlinear motions.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Y. Li, M. Kim, T. H. Pial, Y. Lin, H. Cui, M. Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: Electrostatic interactions play a critical role in the kinetic pathways and thermodynamic outcomes of peptide self-assembly. The aggregation of peptide units can alter their charged status and pK(a) values, resulting in different nanostructures.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Jianshe Xia, Julia Ann Kalow, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: This study investigates the topological structural changes, microscopic dynamics, and linear rheology of unentangled vitrimers through molecular dynamics simulations. The results show minor variations in topological structure with temperature and increased dynamic heterogeneities near the topological freezing transition temperature. The simulation results are quantitatively consistent with predictions from the sticky Rouse model.
Letter
Mechanics
E. Kirkinis, M. Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: When a body is placed in a rotating fluid, it forms a Taylor column structure. In classical non-rotating liquids with odd or Hall coefficient of viscosity, Taylor columns resembling halos or spears can also be observed, exhibiting non-dissipative behavior.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Felipe Jimenez-Angeles, Ali Ehlen, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: Layered materials with mixed electron and ion transport have potential applications in energy harvesting, water desalination, and bioinspired functionalities. The interaction between ionic and electronic charges on the surface of materials plays a crucial role in these functionalities. By considering the surface polarization of confining surfaces, the researchers observed a significant increase in ionic conduction. This enhancement is attributed to the conductor's screening of electrostatic interactions, which enhances ionic correlations and facilitates faster transport within the confined spaces.
FARADAY DISCUSSIONS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Dingwen Qian, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: In this study, we investigate oppositely charged colloids with size and charge asymmetry under the influence of an external electric field. The large colloidal particles are connected by harmonic springs, arranging themselves into a hexagonal lattice, while the small particles demonstrate fluid-like motion without bonds. Our findings reveal that the system exhibits cluster formation with stable wave packets in the vibrations of the large particles when the external driving force exceeds a critical value.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Leticia Lopez-Flores, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: Acid-base equilibria have a direct impact on the functionality and behavior of particles in a system. This study investigates ionizable colloidal particles in a suspension through molecular dynamics simulations and charge regulation Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that as the pH increases, particles functionalized with acid groups change their arrangement from face-centered cubic packing to a disordered state.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Roger John-Erik Reinertsen, Felipe Jimenez-Angeles, Sumit Kewalramani, Michael Bedzyk, Monica Olvera de la Cruz
Summary: This study investigates the assembly of DNA-grafted gold nanoparticles in concentrated electrolyte solutions and reveals the influence of divalent-electrolyte concentration on the structure of colloidal crystals. Increasing the electrolyte concentration leads to a transition from face-centered cubic to body-centered cubic structures, accompanied by changes in interparticle interactions and dehydration of the nanoparticle environment.
FARADAY DISCUSSIONS
(2023)
