Brushed creation of liquid marbles

Abstract

A method where particulates are transferred via a cosmetic brush onto liquid drops created on a highly non-wetting substrate with a hole to generate talc and graphite liquid marbles (LMs) and talc-graphite Janus liquid marbles is described. van der Waals forces facilitated the attachment of particulates to the dry brush bristles. Subsequently, the surface tension forces arising from particle interaction with water (which were O(102) higher than the van der Waals forces) engendered transfer of the particulates to the liquid-gas interface of the drop. Forces below 1 mN applied by a dangling foil on the LM ensured preservation of the drop shape when the force was removed. During the application of this force, the contact angles at the contact lines behaved differently from sessile drops that are inclined on surfaces. This preparation method portends the ability to automate the creation of LMs and Janus LMs for various applications.