Publication detail

Unidirectional Droplet Propulsion onto Gradient Brushes without External Energy Supply

Kajouri, R. Theodorakis, PE. Deuar, P. Bennacer, R. Zidek, J. Egorov, SA. Milchev, A.

Original Title

Unidirectional Droplet Propulsion onto Gradient Brushes without External Energy Supply

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

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.

Keywords

MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS; TRANSPORT; MOTION; SURFACES; DRIVEN; MASS; DUROTAXIS; GRAPHENE

Authors

Kajouri, R.; Theodorakis, PE.; Deuar, P.; Bennacer, R.; Zidek, J.; Egorov, SA.; Milchev, A.

Released

9. 2. 2023

Publisher

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Location

WASHINGTON

ISBN

0743-7463

Periodical

Langmuir

Year of study

39

Number

7

State

United States of America

Pages from

2818

Pages to

2828

Pages count

11

URL

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03381

BibTex

@article{BUT184144,
  author="Kajouri, R. and Theodorakis, PE. and Deuar, P. and Bennacer, R. and Zidek, J. and Egorov, SA. and Milchev, A.",
  title="Unidirectional Droplet Propulsion onto Gradient Brushes without External Energy Supply",
  journal="Langmuir",
  year="2023",
  volume="39",
  number="7",
  pages="2818--2828",
  doi="10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03381",
  issn="0743-7463",
  url="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03381"
}