A droplet robotic system enabled by electret-induced polarization on droplet

Ruotong Zhang, Chengzhi Zhang, Xiaoxue Fan, Christina C. K. Au Yeung, Huiyanchen Li, Haisong Lin () and Ho Cheung Shum ()
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Ruotong Zhang: The University of Hong Kong
Chengzhi Zhang: The University of Hong Kong
Xiaoxue Fan: The University of Hong Kong
Christina C. K. Au Yeung: The University of Hong Kong
Huiyanchen Li: Hong Kong Science Park
Haisong Lin: The University of Hong Kong
Ho Cheung Shum: The University of Hong Kong

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Robotics for scientific research are evolving from grasping macro-scale solid materials to directly actuating micro-scale liquid samples. However, current liquid actuation mechanisms often restrict operable liquid types or compromise the activity of biochemical samples by introducing interfering mediums. Here, we propose a robotic liquid handling system enabled by a novel droplet actuation mechanism, termed electret-induced polarization on droplet (EPD). EPD enables all-liquid actuation in principle and experimentally exhibits generality for actuating various inorganic/organic liquids with relative permittivity ranging from 2.25 to 84.2 and volume from 500 nL to 1 mL. Moreover, EPD is capable of actuating various biochemical samples without compromising their activities, including various body fluids, living cells, and proteins. A robotic system is also coupled with the EPD mechanism to enable full automation. EPD’s high adaptability with liquid types and biochemical samples thus promotes the automation of liquid-based scientific experiments across multiple disciplines.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50520-9

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