Giant surface potentials in organic films enable electrode-free self-driven water droplets
Abstract
without electrodes or externally introduced charges. The motion originates from an electric field gradient formed between the GSP region and the potential-relaxed area beneath the droplet. Using photopatterning of photochromic diarylethene, droplet trajectories can be spatially programmed. We further demonstrate that the long-standing issue of GSP photostability can be overcome using highly insulating molecular materials. This GSP-driven mechanism provides a new strategy for electrode-free droplet manipulation and opens opportunities in microfluidics, diagnostics, chemical synthesis, and energy harvesting.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies
Surface Chemistry and Catalysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Materials Horizons
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 5395–5406
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN