1 research outputs found
Self-Actuation of Liquid Metal via Redox Reaction
Presented
here is a method for actuating a gallium-based liquid-metal
alloy without the need for an external power supply. Liquid metal
is used as an anode to drive a complementary oxygen reduction reaction,
resulting in the spontaneous growth of hydrophilic gallium oxide on
the liquid-metal surface, which induces flow of the liquid metal into
a channel. The extent and duration of the actuation are controllable
throughout the process, and the induced flow is both reversible and
repeatable. This self-actuation technique can also be used to trigger
other electrokinetic or fluidic mechanisms