2018/02/01 by Guillermo J. Amador, Guillermo J Amador, Ahmet Fatih Tabak +11
Engineering · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer #Fluid Dynamics and Thin Films #Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity #physics.flu-dyn
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1802.00475
22 pages, 5 figures, 5 supplementary figures, 2 supplementary tables
arxiv created 2018/02/01 · openalex publication_date 2018/02/01 · arxiv updated 2018/02/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Surface tension gradients induce Marangoni flow, which may be exploited for fluid transport. At the micrometer scale, these surface-driven flows can be more significant than those driven by pressure. By introducing fluid-fluid interfaces on the walls of microfluidic channels, we use surface tension gradients to drive bulk fluid flows. The gradients are specifically induced through thermal energy, exploiting the temperature dependence of a fluid-fluid interface to generate thermocapillary flow. In this report, we provide the design concept for a biocompatible, thermocapillary microchannel capable of being powered by solar irradiation. Using temperature gradients on the order of degrees Celsius per centimeter, we achieve fluid velocities on the order of millimeters per second. Following experimental observations, fluid dynamic models, and numerical simulation, we find that the fluid velocity is linearly proportional to the provided temperature gradient, enabling full control of the fluid flow within the microchannels.