Programming self assembly by designing the 3D shape of floating objects

ORAL

Abstract

Self-assembly of floating particles driven by capillary forces at some liquid-air interface leads to the formation of two-dimensionnal structures. Using a 3d printer, milimeter scale objets are produced. Their 3d shape is chosen in order to create capillary multipoles. The capillary interactions between these components can be either attractive or repulsive depending on the interface local deformations along the liquid-air interface. In order to understand how the shape of an object deforms the interface, we developed an original profilometry method. The measurements show that specific structures can be programmed by selecting the 3d branched shapes.

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Authors

  • Martin Poty

    GRASP, Physics Department B5a, University of Li\`ege, B-4000 Li\`ege, Belgium

  • Guillaume Lagubeau

    GRASP, Physics Department B5a, University of Li\`ege, B-4000 Li\`ege, Belgium, GRASP, Physics Department, University of Li\`ege, B-4000 Li\`ege, Belgium, GRASP, Institute Physics B5a, Sart Tilman, University of Liege, B4000 Liege, Belgium

  • Geoffroy Lumay

    GRASP, Physics Department B5a, University of Li\`ege, B-4000 Li\`ege, Belgium, GRASP, Institute Physics B5a, Sart Tilman, University of Liege, B4000 Liege, Belgium

  • Nicolas Vandewalle

    GRASP, Physics Department B5a, University of Li\`ege, B-4000 Li\`ege, Belgium, GRASP, Institute Physics B5a, Sart Tilman, University of Liege, B4000 Liege, Belgium, University of Li\`ege, GRASP, Institute of Physics B5a, Sart Tilman, University of Li\`ege, B4000 Li\`ege, Belgium