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Surface Tension Driven Actuation

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Surface Tension in Microsystems

Part of the book series: Microtechnology and MEMS ((MEMS))

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Abstract

The ability of plants to extract work from evaporation is the inspiration behind all of the work in this chapter. Transpiration mechanisms are explored as a method for driving mechanical and electrical energy conversion. We present two types of energy scavenging devices that were inspired by nature, and specifically, by different transpiration mechanisms used in plants. The first type of device consists of a new class of mechanical actuators that operate via the evaporation of water. The second type of device uses evaporation-driven flow to generate electrical power using a charge-pumping mechanism.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Bubbles were generated using an input stream of dry air introduced into a liquid channel at a T-junction so as to create air bubbles interspersed with water.

  2. 2.

    \(f=v/x=1.5\, \mathrm c\mathrm m\mathrm s^{-1}/0.3\, \mathrm c\mathrm m\).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

    Ruba T. Borno & Michel M. Maharbiz

Authors
  1. Ruba T. Borno
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  2. Michel M. Maharbiz
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Correspondence to Michel M. Maharbiz .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. BEAMS Department CP 165/56, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

    Pierre Lambert

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Borno, R.T., Maharbiz, M.M. (2013). Surface Tension Driven Actuation. In: Lambert, P. (eds) Surface Tension in Microsystems. Microtechnology and MEMS. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37552-1_13

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