Self-propelled ion gel at air-water interface.

ABSTRACT: We report on a self-propelled gel using ionic liquid as a new type of self-propellant that generates a powerful and durable motion at an air-water interface. The gel is composed of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIM-TFSI) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-co-HFP)). A long rectangular ion gel piece placed on the interface shows rapid rotation motion with maximum frequency close to 10 Hz, corresponding to the velocity over 300 mms^-1 at an outmost end of the piece. The rotation continues for ca. 10² s, followed by a reciprocating motion (<~10³ s) and a nonlinear motion in long-time observations (>~10³ s). The behaviours can be explained by the model considering elution of EMIM-TFSI to the ai

SUBMITTER: Furukawa K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5571170 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature