Reversible Self-Propelled Droplet Movement: A New Driving Mechanism
- 21 September 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
- Vol. 95 (13), 136103
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.95.136103
Abstract
Reversible self-propelled movements of droplets of long chain alkanes are presented and analyzed. Slightly above the bulk melting temperature, solid alkane multilayers melt into droplets which move in a self-avoiding, random path. While moving, the droplets consume the solid alkane and leave behind a widening groove. At temperatures slightly below bulk melting this process can be reversed. Now the droplets move backwards leaving behind a narrowing solid trail which is nourished by the shrinking droplet. The speeds of the droplets are analyzed quantitatively and the melting enthalpy is identified as energetic source for their movement.Keywords
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