Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, systems and methods for measuring contact-line mobility of a liquid on a solid substrate. The system includes a motion-generation component, a motion-measurement component, and a computer component. The motion-generation component can include an actuator and a controller, the actuator being adapted to mount a solid substrate and effective to impart periodic forcing to the solid substrate when a test droplet of the liquid is deposited thereon, and the controller being adapted to tune frequency and amplitude of the forcing to induce measurable contact-line displacement of the test droplet on the solid substrate. The motion-measurement component includes an image acquisition device adapted for capturing images of the test droplet.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, systems and methods for measuring contact-line mobility of a liquid on a solid substrate. The system includes a motion-generation component, a motion-measurement component, and a computer component. The motion-generation component can include an actuator and a controller, the actuator being adapted to mount a solid substrate and effective to impart periodic forcing to the solid substrate when a test droplet of the liquid is deposited thereon, and the controller being adapted to tune frequency and amplitude of the forcing to induce measurable contact-line displacement of the test droplet on the solid substrate. The motion-measurement component includes an image acquisition device adapted for capturing images of the test droplet.

Abstract: A switchable adhesion device combines two concepts: the surface tension force from a large number of small liquid bridges can be significant (capillarity-based adhesion) and these contacts can be quickly made or broken with electronic control (switchable). The device grabs or releases a substrate in a fraction of a second via a low voltage pulse that drives electroosmotic flow. Energy consumption is minimal since both the grabbed and released states are stable equilibria that persist with no energy added to the system. The device maintains the integrity of an array of hundreds to thousands of distinct interfaces during active reconfiguration from droplets to bridges and back, despite the natural tendency of the liquid towards coalescence. Strengths approaching those of permanent bonding adhesives are possible as feature size is scaled down. The device features compact size, no solid moving parts, and is made of common materials.

Abstract: A switchable adhesion device combines two concepts: the surface tension force from a large number of small liquid bridges can be significant (capillarity-based adhesion) and these contacts can be quickly made or broken with electronic control (switchable). The device grabs or releases a substrate in a fraction of a second via a low voltage pulse that drives electroosmotic flow. Energy consumption is minimal since both the grabbed and released states are stable equilibria that persist with no energy added to the system. The device maintains the integrity of an array of hundreds to thousands of distinct interfaces during active reconfiguration from droplets to bridges and back, despite the natural tendency of the liquid towards coalescence. Strengths approaching those of permanent bonding adhesives are possible as feature size is scaled down. The device features compact size, no solid moving parts, and is made of common materials.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a channel, a plunger slidably engaged with an inner surface of the channel, a substrate with one or more passages each having two or more openings, a liquid in each of the one or more passages, at least one fluid, and a force application system. The substrate is disposed in the channel on one side of the plunger. The liquid in each of the one or more passages has a volume which exceeds an internal volume of each the one or more passages and forms a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are fluidly connected to one another and each of the liquid drops is individually adjustable between two or more sizes. Each of the sizes and a location of each of the liquid drops define one of two or more switch positions. The fluid is located in the channel on the one side of the plunger and substantially surrounding the liquid drops.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a channel, a plunger slidably engaged with an inner surface of the channel, a substrate with one or more passages each having two or more openings, a liquid in each of the one or more passages, at least one fluid, and a force application system. The substrate is disposed in the channel on one side of the plunger. The liquid in each of the one or more passages has a volume which exceeds an internal volume of each the one or more passages and forms a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are fluidly connected to one another and each of the liquid drops is individually adjustable between two or more sizes. Each of the sizes and a location of each of the liquid drops define one of two or more switch positions. The fluid is located in the channel on the one side of the plunger and substantially surrounding the liquid drops.

Abstract: A switching device includes a substrate with one or more passages and a force application system. Each of the passages has two or more openings, a force application system, and a liquid in the one or more passages in the substrate whose volume exceeds an internal volume of the one or more passages to form a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are connected to one another by the liquid, each of the liquid drops is adjustable between two or more sizes and configurations, and each of the sizes and configurations of each of the liquid drops defines one of two or more switch positions. The force application system applies a force on the liquid to control switching between the two or more switch positions.

Abstract: A method for controlling and manipulating solidification of a molten material includes generating a gradient pattern on at least a portion of a substrate and depositing the molten material on at least a portion of the substrate with the gradient pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling and manipulating solidification of a molten material includes a substrate on which the molten material is deposited and a writing system that generates a gradient pattern on at least a portion of the substrate on which the molten material is deposited.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling and manipulating solidification of a molten material includes a substrate on which the molten material is deposited and a writing system that generates a gradient pattern on at least a portion of the substrate on which the molten material is deposited.