Fluidic assembly at the microscale: progress and prospects

Crane, Nathan B.; Onen, Onursal; Carballo, Jose M.; Ni, Qi; Guldiken, Rasim

doi:10.1007/s10404-012-1060-1

Cited by 61 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 266 publications

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“…Assembling them into mesoscale structures with controlled symmetries is a primary challenge for their use in a wide variety of applications, including responsive devices [3] and photonic band-gap crystals [4]. Among the techniques to grow large scale three-dimensional colloidal crystals [1,5,6] the use of topographic templates, to assist the assembly of colloidal particles, has been shown to effectively control the symmetry and orientation of colloidal crystals [7][8][9][10][11]. This method relies on topographically, or chemically, patterned surfaces, tuned through conventional micro-fabrication techniques such as soft lithography, as templates to drive the nucleation and epitaxial growth of colloidal structures [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle selection through topographic templates in nematic colloids

et al. 2014

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We propose the use of topographic modulation of surfaces to select and localize particles in nematic colloids. By considering convex and concave deformations of one of the confining surfaces we show that the colloid-flat surface repulsion may be enhanced or switched into an attraction. In particular, we find that when the colloidal particles have the same anchoring conditions as the patterned surfaces, they are strongly attracted to concave dimples, while if they exhibit different anchoring conditions they are pinned at the top of convex protrusions. Although dominated by elastic interactions the first mechanism is reminiscent of the depletion induced attraction or of the key-lock mechanism, while the second is specific to liquid crystal colloids. These long-ranged, highly tunable, surface-colloid interactions contribute for the development of template-assisted assembly of large colloidal crystals, with well defined symmetries, required for applications.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle selection through topographic templates in nematic colloids

et al. 2014

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“…In this scale range, surface forces dominate, and a broad variety of innovative functional systems has been assembled by a combination of fluidic drag and surface tension forces, i.e. by fluidic SA [12,13]. Analytic studies on the dynamics and control of SA at this scale are therefore pivotal for further technological advances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional polymeric microtiles for optically-tracked fluidic self-assembly

Mastrangeli

Martinoli

Brugger

2014

Microelectronic Engineering

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“…The former-related to fluidic assembly [8] as well as to surface-tension-based microrobotics [3]-has seen for instance the use of oscillating bubbles to propel swimming robots [9], [10], of air bubbles to create Marangoni stresses driving cells in bulk liquid [11] and of opticallyactuated bubbles in oil as microrobots [12]. Varel recently described a rotating table based on water droplets moving unidirectionally along a circular track micromachined onto a substrate subject to vertical oscillations [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental characterization of Drobot: Towards closed-loop control

Majcherczyk

Rabenorosoa

Clevy

et al. 2014

2014 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics

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Abstract-This paper presents advances in the development of a microrobotic platform actuated by three liquid droplets in a gaseous environment (Drop-bot or Drobot). Drobot builds on the bubble robotics concept earlier introduced by Lenders [1]. A new platform design is described allowing three actuated degrees of freedom : one translational (vertical) and two rotational (tilt). The platform-supporting droplets are generated by pushing liquid out of a tank through linear actuators. Preliminary kinematic (output/input ratio), static (compliance) and dynamic (response time and evaporation time) characterizations of Drobot are reported, as well as promising experiments with an ionic liquid, whose negligible volatility is suitable for vacuum or hot environments. Additionally, a method to deduce the platform attitude from the measurement of the electrical resistance of the droplets is discussed. This work contributes toward the automatic control of the platform, which will be fully addressed in a following publication.

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Fluidic assembly at the microscale: progress and prospects

Cited by 61 publications

References 266 publications

Particle selection through topographic templates in nematic colloids

Particle selection through topographic templates in nematic colloids

Three-dimensional polymeric microtiles for optically-tracked fluidic self-assembly

Experimental characterization of Drobot: Towards closed-loop control

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