Unidirectional Droplet Propulsion onto Gradient Brushes without External Energy Supply

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216305%3A26620%2F23%3APU148621" target="_blank" >RIV/00216305:26620/23:PU148621 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03381" target="_blank" >https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03381</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03381" target="_blank" >10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03381</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Unidirectional Droplet Propulsion onto Gradient Brushes without External Energy Supply

Original language description

Using extensive molecular dynamics simulation of a coarse-grained model, we demonstrate the possibility of sustained unidirectional motion (durotaxis) of droplets without external energy supply when placed on a polymer brush substrate with stiffness gradient in a certain direction. The governing key parameters for the specific substrate design studied, which determine the durotaxis efficiency, are found to be the grafting density of the brush and the droplet adhesion to the brush surface, whereas the strength of the stiffness gradient, the viscosity of the droplet, or the length of the polymer chains of the brush have only a minor effect on the process. It is shown that this durotaxial motion is driven by the steady increase of the interfacial energy between droplet and brush as the droplet moves from softer to stiffer parts of the substrate whereby the mean driving force gradually declines with decreasing roughness of the brush surface. We anticipate that our findings indicate further possibilities in the area of nanoscale motion without external energy supply.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10400 - Chemical sciences

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2023

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Langmuir

ISSN

0743-7463

e-ISSN

1520-5827

Volume of the periodical

39

Issue of the periodical within the volume

7

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

2818-2828

UT code for WoS article

000931474200001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85147998673