Switchable imbibition in nanoporous gold

Yahui Xue, Jürgen Markmann, Huiling Duan (), Jörg Weissmüller and Patrick Huber ()
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Yahui Xue: Institute of Materials Research, Materials Mechanics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht
Jürgen Markmann: Institute of Materials Research, Materials Mechanics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht
Huiling Duan: State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Center for Applied Physics and Technology, College of Engineering, Peking University
Jörg Weissmüller: Institute of Materials Research, Materials Mechanics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht
Patrick Huber: Institute of Materials Physics and Technology, Hamburg University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Spontaneous imbibition enables the elegant propelling of nano-flows because of the dominance of capillarity at small length scales. The imbibition kinetics are, however, solely determined by the static host geometry, the capillarity, and the fluidity of the imbibed liquid. This makes active control particularly challenging. Here we show for aqueous electrolyte imbibition in nanoporous gold that the fluid flow can be reversibly switched on and off through electric potential control of the solid–liquid interfacial tension, that is, we can accelerate the imbibition front, stop it, and have it proceed at will. Simultaneous measurements of the mass flux and the electrical current allow us to document simple scaling laws for the imbibition kinetics, and to explore the charge transport in the metallic nanopores. Our findings demonstrate that the high electric conductivity along with the pathways for fluid/ionic transport render nanoporous gold a versatile, accurately controllable electrocapillary pump and flow sensor for minute amounts of liquids with exceptionally low operating voltages.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5237

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