Technology Review - Published By MIT
Log in to My.TechnologyReview.com | Register
Advertisement
« Back 1 [2]

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Super Plastic Both Attracts and Repels Water

Continued from page 1

By Prachi Patel-Predd

smaller text tool iconmedium text tool iconlarger text tool icon

The coating could also find uses in biomedical applications to make microfluidic chips. Typically, microfluidic devices contain enclosed micrometer-wide channels etched into silicon, glass, or plastic plates. Then pressure or electric fields drive tiny volumes of fluids, typically nanoliters, along these channels for diagnostic tests and genetics research. For instance, to test for the presence of a certain protein in blood you could take blood in one channel and direct it to another channel containing a chemical reagent that identifies the protein.

Compared with conventional microfluidics, a microfluidic chip based on the new surface would have the advantage of easier mixing, Rubner says. Right now, the chips need pumps and valves that move the liquid around to induce mixing. "In our case you can mix the liquids by just controlling the amount of liquid you put on the surface," he says. With a pipette, you could add precise amounts of fluid into two hydrophilic grooves placed close to each other. As you add more fluid, the droplets bulge out at the edge of the grooves because of the surrounding hydrophobic area. Eventually, the bulging surfaces touch and mix. Being able to confine liquids to a small region could provide densely packed reaction sites with more control over the reaction, he says, since adjacent drops won't mix unless they are forced to.

While the exact uses of this new material are still uncertain, it opens up many possibilities, says Kenneth Wynne, a chemical engineering professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Patterning ultra-hydrophilic patches on a ultra-hydrophobic surface in this way is new and useful," he says.

« Back 1 [2]

Comments

  • Request for sample for testing for ...
    Guest (Ronald H Levine) on 05/30/2006 at 12:00 AM
    Posts:
    1
    equest for sample for testing for preparedness use for water collection in dessert environments with foggy nights to determine the quantity needed and if it can be made to be folded up lightweight and compact and marketed for this purpose.   RonaldHLevine@aideq.com
    Rate this comment: 12345
    • [no subject]
      Guest (andrea raise) on 06/21/2006 at 12:00 AM
      Posts:
      1
      equest for sample for testing for preparedness use for water collection in dessert environments with foggy nights to determine the quantity needed and if it can be made to be folded up lightweight and compact and marketed for this purpose.   RonaldHLevine@aideq.comReply
      Rate this comment: 12345
  • Hybridize the technology
    Guest (Chuck the Lucky) on 06/01/2006 at 12:00 AM
    Posts:
    1
    I have been hearing about companies that are making low cost (potentially solar powered) devices that use the basic principle of a dehumidifier to make water (which is then filtered) from the air by cooling it. It sounds that combining these two techniques could be added for extra efficiency.

    I remember one of these companies saying that the technology is feasible in all but the absolutely driest climates and that most of the world's people, even the poorest, live in areas where it is may be hot and have little precipitation but the air is not completely dessicated. Many are selling solar panels and provide units in a range of sizes from personal/family to small village size. If this new strategy can be added on to this new but existing industry of atmospheric water generators it could be a really interesting development.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Air_Extraction_Devices
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • apply to diapers
    Guest (bogo) on 06/02/2006 at 12:00 AM
    Posts:
    1
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Mining water from ambient Air.
    Guest (Austin B. Carter, Jr) on 06/04/2006 at 12:00 AM
    Posts:
    1
    DMSE plastic in article could be
    coated on opposite face with an
    electrical conductor that would
    then allow electrostatic cooling
    to depress the samples temperature
    to the ambient DEW point resulting in the nucleation, condensation and
    harvesting of water from air. Note
    that electrostatic cooling can be
    powered by a solar panel.
    Rate this comment: 12345
    • Re: Mining water from ambient Air.
      pablo8 on 08/21/2006 at 1:11 PM
      Posts:
      1
      My name is pablo and I am starting a large public organic garden, in mexico, in the state of oaxaca, on the pacific coast.. The climate there is perfect, for collecting ambient moisture in the air, for half of the year the humdidity is at 90 percent or more...There is a huge lack of water in this region of mexico, which only enables people to gro food a few months of the year.. if we could some how creat a collection machine that could, that was not to expensive to run and create.. I think it could be a great use to people down there..I have dedicated the next couple of months while i am in the states to make this machine...Unfortunately I am starting from ground zero, I am a mason and a carpenter, but lack much knowledge or electricity, chemistry, and engineering...If htere is anybody out there who would like to lend me a hand, or some advice, or just wants to talk about ...please
      pablo
      Rate this comment: 12345
      • i need assistance
        awetila on 09/15/2006 at 4:56 PM
        Posts:
        1
        hello,
        currently am a student of mechanical engineering in my school. I am working on a particular topic, please i need your assistance in helping me to write this.it is a competition i am putting in for.Thanks as i wait for your reply.
        Rate this comment: 12345
      • Re: Mining water from ambient Air.
        joeatxdobs on 09/26/2006 at 12:43 PM
        Posts:
        1
        We are building a night radiant condenser system that would be ideal for use in large parts of Mexico.   As it turns out providing the proper hydrophilic conditions are only part of the atmospheric water harvest battle, you also need to provide favorable wind conditions and favorable temperatures which we optimize with our Night radiant condensation system.      We would be interested in enhancing this unit for use with the super plastic which should increase its yield per square foot.     Our system works today and can be delivered in volumes from 100 square foot at 3.5 gallons per night up to millions of square foot.  We target areas with daytime high RH over 73%.   We expect a super plastic like material to double or triple our production especially in otherwise marginal conditions.  It could allow us to deliver water in areas with lower humidity which would make the technology useful to those areas which need it the most.  Reply to joe@a2wh.com
        Rate this comment: 12345
  • Harvesting Water from Fog
    Guest (Austin B. Carter,Jr.) on 07/03/2006 at 12:00 AM
    Posts:
    1
    An open foam sponge made from DMSE
    Nano super plastic would allow
    water collection from fog and be
    a small, mobile, squeezable supply
    of water for mariners adrift on a
    life raft in a fog bank.  
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • request
    rawson on 11/07/2006 at 9:49 AM
    Posts:
    1
    dear sir,

    I represent a group of large off shore investors. I would like to request a sample,to check usage,capacity etc.If you have any research that is available that would be great also.
    please send reply to rawson_watson@hotmail.com
    address Mr R.Watson
            237 marlborough road
            Gillingham
            Kent ME7 5HS
            England
    Rate this comment: 12345
    • THE FAMOUS RAWSON WATSON!
      klm220 on 05/21/2007 at 5:45 PM
      Posts:
      1
      Not the same Rawson Watson who tried to steal £1.5 million from a plane? Gillingham. Kent. It must be!

      Congratulations on your "memorable crime"!

      http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/2976574.stm
      Rate this comment: 12345
      • Re: THE FAMOUS RAWSON WATSON!
        briesmith on 05/22/2007 at 7:00 AM
        Posts:
        1
        "Watson got away from the airport but he was arrested for drink-driving in October 2002 and his DNA was matched to a blood sample recovered from the aircraft's hold. When his case reached the Old Bailey in June 2003, Watson denied the robbery attempt and assured the jury that he was back-packing in West Africa at the time. Unfortunately for him, the stamps for Togo in his passport turned out to be forgeries. So a month later, he was sent down for 3 years."

        This man is obviously stupid beyond belief. It would be interesting to find out what, if anything, he could make of this new material.

        Failing any way forward with technology can I suggest a name change?
        Rate this comment: 12345
  • Where can I get some?
    Michaelangelica on 01/08/2007 at 2:39 PM
    Posts:
    2
    Where can I buy a sample of this material for testing please?
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Fog Reduction
    semichnich on 11/03/2007 at 10:39 PM
    Posts:
    1
    I've read many articles over the past few years about super chain reaction accidents caused by dense fog. There seems to be certain areas that are habitually prone to these fogs. I had often wondered if there was a material that could be placed along these road stretches to reduce the totally blinding conditions encountered. Granted this would require a literal forest of frames to support strips or grids of this super plastic and a culvert system to draw off the water, and assuming the water could drain down the strips or grid by gravity alone. This is no small task,,, but is it possible ?
    Rate this comment: 12345
Advertisement

Current Issue

Technology Review September/October 2008
How Obama Really Did It
Social technology helped bring him to the brink of the presidency.
•  Subscribe
Save 41%
•  Table of Contents
•  MIT News

Magazine Services

Career Resources

MIT Technology Insider

Stories and breaking news from inside MIT about the latest research, innovations, and startups--in a convenient monthly e-newsletter. Subscribe today

Follow us on Twitter

Twitter

Get Technology Review updates via the web, cellphone, or Instant Messager – Follow techreview on Twitter!

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
Advertisement
MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology