The University of Hong Kong

Versitech, Inc.

Liqiu Wang

Wei Li

Xin Tang

Ho Cheung Shum

Zhou Liu

Tiantian Kong

Jiaqian Li

A durable superomniphobic device is presented where the polymeric device has a surface that includes doubly re-entrant micropillars residing within pockets that are partitioned within a matrix of interconnected doubly re-entrant walls. The doubly re-entrant matrix can be in a pattern where walls that are equal to or greater in height to the micropillars intersect or otherwise contact to provide protection to the more fragile micropillars. These durable superomniphobic devices can be formed by injection molding and can repel liquids having a surface tension of about 18 to about 98 mN mand display liquid contact angle of greater than or equal to 150°.

Durable water and oil repellent polymeric devices

Disclosed is a device for moving a liquid in a substantially loss-free operation, the device made of at least a photothermal film; a pyroelectric crystal over the photothermal film; and a superomniphobic surface over the pyroelectric crystal, wherein the device is configured to move the liquid in the substantially loss-free operation with a beam of light.

Loss-free liquids manipulation platform

A method and apparatus are provided for mixing highly viscous fluids to form a mixture. The mixture is created rapidly and has a high level of uniformity. The mixture is created by utilizing induced viscous fluid folding under the influence of an electric field. The electric field is introduced by connecting a nozzle dispensing the fluids in parallel to a voltage supply and grounding a collection plate located below the nozzle. When a certain voltage is applied the co-flow viscous fluids start to fold because the electric field exerts stress on the surface of the fluids, which results in changes of the geometry and dynamics of the viscous fluids. Control of the electric field provides great control over the mixture.

Method and apparatus for rapid mixing of highly viscous fluids

An apparatus and method are provided for rapid and precise manipulation and transfer of tiny liquid droplets. by dynamically introducing microstructures with relatively high surface energy to a non-wettable surface, which surface has in-situ switchable adhesion to liquid droplets. By penetrating microstructures on the background surface, the chemical property of the surface is locally modified. Capillary bridges will form between microstructures and liquid droplets which lead to high adhesive forces. When the microstructures are retracted, the capillary bridges either pinch-off or recede, which drastically reduces the adhesion. With proper chemical modification, the surface can either manipulate a liquid droplet in air or in an immiscible carrier liquid. Tiny droplets with volumes down to nanoliter scale can be prepared and dispensed by using the surface.

Growing community of inventors

Hong Kong, China

Liqiu Wang