Self-spinning nanoparticle laden microdroplets for sensing and energy harvesting

Nanoscale. 2016 Mar 21;8(11):6118-28. doi: 10.1039/c6nr00217j.

Abstract

Exposure of a volatile organic vapour could set in powerful rotational motion a microdroplet composed of an aqueous salt solution loaded with metal nanoparticles. The solutal Marangoni motion on the surface originating from the sharp difference in the surface tension of water and organic vapour stimulated the strong vortices inside the droplet. The vapour sources of methanol, ethanol, diethyl ether, toluene, and chloroform stimulated motions of different magnitudes could easily be correlated to the surface tension gradient on the drop surface. Interestingly, when the nanoparticle laden droplet of aqueous salt solution was connected to an external electric circuit through a pair of electrodes, an ∼85-95% reduction in the electrical resistance was observed across the spinning droplet. The extent of reduction in the resistance was found to have a correlation with the difference in the surface tension of the vapour source and the water droplet, which could be employed to distinguish the vapour sources. Remarkably, the power density of the same prototype was estimated to be around 7 μW cm(-2), which indicated the potential of the phenomenon in converting surface energy into electrical in a non-destructive manner and under ambient conditions. Theoretical analysis uncovered that the difference in the ζ-potential near the electrodes was the major reason for the voltage generation. The prototype could also detect the repeated exposure and withdrawal of vapour sources, which helped in the development of a proof-of-concept detector to sense alcohol issuing out of the human breathing system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Breath Tests / methods*
  • Chloroform / chemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Ethanol / chemistry
  • Ether / chemistry
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Methanol / chemistry
  • Models, Statistical
  • Motion
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface Tension
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Toluene / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Water
  • Ether
  • Toluene
  • Ethanol
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Chloroform
  • Methanol