Controlling Surface Tension to Manipulate Liquid Metals (IMAGE)

North Carolina State University

Controlling Surface Tension to Manipulate Liquid Metals

Caption

Liquid metals normally form a spherical shape due to their large surface tension. By applying a small voltage to the metal in water, a surface oxide forms on the surface of the metal and lowers the surface tension. Reversing the bias can remove the oxide and return the metal to a large surface tension. These phenomena can be utilized to control the shape of the metal and get it to flow in and out of capillaries.

Credit

Mohammad Khan

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