Static-state particle fabrication via rapid vitrification of a thixotropic medium.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 34145267.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-23992-2 and PMC identifier 8213858.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Functional particles that respond to external stimuli are spurring technological evolution across various disciplines. While large-scale production of functional particles is needed for their use in real-life applications, precise control over particle shapes and directional properties has remained elusive for high-throughput processes. We developed a high-throughput emulsion-based process that exploits rapid vitrification of a thixotropic medium to manufacture diverse functional particles in large quantities. The vitrified medium renders stationary emulsion droplets that preserve their shape and size during solidification, and energetic fields can be applied to build programmed anisotropy into the particles. We showcase mass-production of several functional particles, including low-melting point metallic particles, self-propelling Janus particles, and unidirectionally-magnetized robotic particles, via this static-state particle fabrication process.