Overview
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ABSTRACT
The conversion of light energy into mechanical energy is an important challenge for the development of clean vehicles as well as for acting selectively on macro and microscopic systems without any mechanical contact. The current technologies involve intermediates for stocking, transport and transformation. Performing this conversion with lesser intermediate stages is interesting in terms of size, simplicity and system cost. The main existing strategy allowing for a more direct conversion, consists in modifying the surface tension between the object and its environment. Indeed, the creation of a surface tension gradient at the surface of the liquid induces matter flows (Marangoni effect) which are able to set in motion liquid or solid systems. These flows can notably be generated and controlled by light, via thermal effects or by using photosensitive surfaces and surfactants (chromocapillary effect).
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Antoine DIGUET: Doctoral student in the Chemistry Department of the École normale supérieure de Paris, UMR 8640
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Arnaud SAINT-JALMES: Doctor - CNRS Research Fellow Rennes Institute of Physics, University of Rennes 1 – CNRS – UMR 6251
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Damien BAIGL: Professor at Pierre et Marie Curie University Paris 06, Chemistry Department of the École normale supérieure de Paris, UMR 8640
INTRODUCTION
The conversion of light energy into mechanical energy is an important issue both for the development of clean vehicles and for selectively acting on micro- and macroscopic systems without mechanical contact. Current technologies always involve storage, transport or transformation intermediaries. Doing without them is a challenge in terms of system size, simplicity and cost. The main existing strategy for a conversion that minimizes the number of intermediate steps is to modify the surface tensions between the object and its environment. It turns out that, at the surface of a liquid, the creation of a surface tension gradient induces material flows (Marangoni effect) capable of setting liquid or solid systems in motion. In particular, these flows can be created and controlled by light, either via thermal effects, or with the aid of light-sensitive surfaces and surfactants (chromocapillary effect).
The conversion of light energy into mechanical energy is an important challenge for the development of clean vehicles as well as for the non contacting selective actuation on macro and microscopic systems. Current technologies involve intermediates for storage, transport and transformation. Performing this conversion without intermediate is interesting in terms of size, simplicity and system cost. The main existing strategy for a most direct conversion consists in the modification of surface tension between the object and its environment. It turns out that the creation of a surface tension gradient at the liquid surface induces matter flows (Marangoni effect) able to move liquid or solid systems. In particular, these flows can be generated and controlled by light, through thermal effects or by using photosensitive surfaces and surfactants (chromocapillary effect).
Light, motion, surface tension, Marangoni effect, isomerization, drop (~ 6)
Light, motion, surface tension, isomerization, Marangoni effect, drop
Field: Basic sciences, energy, surface chemistry
Degree of technology diffusion: Emergence | Growth | Maturity
Technologies involved: Photosensitive surfaces, surfactants
Applications: Conversion of light energy, non-contact movement of objects
Main French players: Limited to the academic field
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Conversion of light energy into mechanical work by chromocapillarity
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