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Light-driven peristaltic pumping by an actuating splay-bend strip

Author

Listed:
  • Klaudia Dradrach

    (University of Cambridge
    University of Warsaw)

  • Michał Zmyślony

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Zixuan Deng

    (Tampere University)

  • Arri Priimagi

    (Tampere University)

  • John Biggins

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Piotr Wasylczyk

    (University of Warsaw)

Abstract

Despite spectacular progress in microfluidics, small-scale liquid manipulation, with few exceptions, is still driven by external pumps and controlled by large-scale valves, increasing cost and size and limiting complexity. By contrast, optofluidics uses light to power, control and monitor liquid manipulation, potentially allowing for small, self-contained microfluidic devices. Here we demonstrate a soft light-propelled actuator made of liquid crystal gel that pumps microlitre volumes of water. The strip of actuating material serves as both a pump and a channel leading to an extremely simple microfluidic architecture that is both powered and controlled by light. The performance of the pump is well explained by a simple theoretical model in which the light-induced bending of the actuator competes with the liquid’s surface tension. The theory highlights that effective pumping requires a threshold light intensity and strip width. The proposed system explores the benefits of shifting the complexity of microfluidic systems from the fabricated device to spatio-temporal control over stimulating light patterns.

Suggested Citation

  • Klaudia Dradrach & Michał Zmyślony & Zixuan Deng & Arri Priimagi & John Biggins & Piotr Wasylczyk, 2023. "Light-driven peristaltic pumping by an actuating splay-bend strip," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37445-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37445-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiu-an Lv & Yuyun Liu & Jia Wei & Erqiang Chen & Lang Qin & Yanlei Yu, 2016. "Photocontrol of fluid slugs in liquid crystal polymer microactuators," Nature, Nature, vol. 537(7619), pages 179-184, September.
    2. Tyler Guin & Michael J. Settle & Benjamin A. Kowalski & Anesia D. Auguste & Richard V. Beblo & Gregory W. Reich & Timothy J. White, 2018. "Layered liquid crystal elastomer actuators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Siqi An & Xiaowen Li & Zengrong Guo & Yi Huang & Yanlin Zhang & Hanqing Jiang, 2024. "Energy-efficient dynamic 3D metasurfaces via spatiotemporal jamming interleaved assemblies for tactile interfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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