Slippery liquid-impregnated porous surfaces (SLIPS) based smart windows (SWs) that dynamically fine-tune the solar energy gain are promising candidates for alleviating the global energy crisis, especially for dim rainy climates. Unfortunately, the inferior durability arising from viscous dissipation over SLIPS-based SWs remains a great challenge that needs to be addressed. Here, an ultra-robust all-solid-state superhydrophobic SW is reported namely electric-actuated reconfigurable shape memory shutter (EA-RSMS) via a hybrid approach of laser ablation and soft transfer. Thanks to electrothermal effect of underlying silver nanowires heater, EA-RSMS can be dynamically glazing by switching the surface shutters between bent mode (the transmittance of 10.8%) and erect one (the transmittance of 56.6%) within 60 s in situ. Synergistically, EA-RSMS motivates the reversible transition between sticky state (sliding angle of 24°) and slippery one (sliding angle of 8°) by alternate Joule-heating/pressing operation. Fundamental physics renders to clarify the effect of shutters topography on the hysteresis and light performance. Last but not the least, by utilizing the optimized EA-RSMS shelter, indoor thermal-comfort regulation, visibility encoding together with angle-variable display are deployed. Current superhydrophobic EA-RSMS with robust durability, novel tuning modulation, fast electric-sensitivity, and optical angle-dependence holds promising potential in self-cleaning smart windows, energy-saving buildings, anti-voyeurism, etc.
Biomimetic structures based on the magnetic response
have attracted
ever-increasing attention in droplet manipulation. Till now, most
methods for droplet manipulation by a magnetic response are only applicable
to a single droplet. It is still a challenge to achieve on-demand
and precise control of multiple droplets (≥2). In this paper,
a strategy for on-demand manipulation of multiple droplets based on
magnetism-responsive slanted micropillar arrays (MSMAs) is proposed.
The Glaco-modified superhydrophobic surface is the basis of multiple-droplet
manipulation. The droplet’s motion mode (pinned, unidirectional,
and bidirectional) can be readily fine-tuned by changing the volume
of droplets and the speed of the magnetic field. The rapid movement
of droplets (10–80 mm/s) in the horizontal direction is realized
by the unidirectional waves of the micropillar array driven by a specific
magnetic field. The bending angle of micropillars can be rapidly and
reversibly adjusted from 0 to 90° under the action of a magnetic
field. Meanwhile, the liquid-involved light, electric switch, and
biomedical detection can be designed by manipulating the droplets
on demand. The superiority of MSMAs in multiple-droplet programmable
manipulation opens up an avenue for applications in microfluidic and
biomedical engineering.
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