Tuning the electrowetting behavior of quantum dot nanofluids

JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE

卷:584

Article

Tohgha, Urice N.^1,2  Watson, Alexander M.^1,3  Godman, Nicholas P.¹ 

[1] Air Force Res Lab, Mat & Mfg Directorate, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433 USA

[2] Azimuth Corp, Fairborn, OH 45424 USA

[3] UES Inc, Beavercreek, OH 45432 USA

关键词: Quantum Dots;    Electrowetting;    Interfacial Surface Tension;    Colloids;    Nanofluids;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jcis.2020.09.097

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Hypothesis: The electrowetting behavior of droplets can be altered by the inclusion of salts, surfactants, or nanoparticles. We propose that varying the properties of cadmium selenide/zinc sulfide quantum dots will affect the electrowetting behavior of fluorescent nanofluids. Information gathered will allow for greater control of fluid properties when designing a colloidal system in an electrowetting environment. Experiments: Aqueous-based quantum dots were functionalized with mercaptocarboxylic acid ligands of various chain length and binding motifs by a room temperature phase transfer method. The size and concentration of the quantum dot were varied, and droplets of the resulting nanofluids were exposed to increasing amounts of voltage. The change in contact angle was evaluated and correlated to the surface chemistry, size, and concentration of the quantum dots. Findings: Quantum dot nanofluids with longer alkyl chains have the most pronounced change in contact angle and were the most stable under applied voltage. The size of the nanoparticles does not significantly impact the electrowetting behavior at low concentration (3 mM), but nanofluids containing smaller diameter quantum dots show enhanced electrowetting behavior at higher concentration (27 mM). The fluorescent properties of the QD nanofluids studied were not affected after repeated electrowetting cycles. Published by Elsevier Inc.

【 授权许可】

Free