A study on the interaction force between two small bodies on a liquid for micro self assembly and separation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The paper presents a detailed study of the mechanism by which a MEMS plate forms a meniscus with a liquid, and the corresponding solid-liquid interaction force. The study is than extended to investigate the interaction force between two small thin plates forming meniscii with a liquid. It is shown that the force is attractive for similar meniscii and repulsive for opposite meniscii. If the meniscii are of the same type but not identical (e.g., one solid makes a steeper meniscus than the other) then the force is attractive at long distances, repulsive at shorter distances, with a stable equilibrium at a finite distance between the solids. The study reveals that MEMS (hydrophilic or phobic) can probe objects in a liquid without inundating themselves. Furthermore, capillary forces can be harnessed to self assemble or separate small solids (micro chips or living cells) on a liquid surface noninvasively.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMicro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages481-487
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9780791819005
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000
EventASME 2000 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2000 - Orlando, United States
Duration: Nov 5 2000Nov 10 2000

Publication series

NameASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Proceedings (IMECE)
Volume2000-AB

Conference

ConferenceASME 2000 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2000
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period11/5/0011/10/00

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering

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