Themed collection Soft Matter Electrified

Here we outline a novel modular approach to separating charge contributions for a better understanding of triboelectric charge measurements.

It is long known that particles of the same material but with different sizes charge with different polarities in mutual collisions. This also holds for dust aggregates.

We report the transition from an amorphous to a crystalline state in a 2D system of polystyrene beads between fixed and mobile plates vertical vibration, finding that top plate motion promotes crystallisation, stabilized by triboelectric charging.

We report a solvent-free assembly method where microspheres align on fluorocarbon patterns without rigid boundaries, creating tunable crystal patterns. Our findings highlight the impact of tribocharging and substrate elasticity on particle ordering.

Numerical simulations using the patch model and the method of image charges, validated against experiments, show that tribocharging in granular materials within inclined grounded tubes depends on the tube's tilt angle and length.

Electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) involves actuating surfactant-laden droplets through electrical stimulus while the droplets lie on a deformable dielectric layer that covers the electrode.

Globular units with heterogeneous surface charge distributions display a liquid–liquid phase separation. The location of the critical point and their ability to bond depend on the interplay between surface pattern and net charge.

We show the surprising emergence of non-uniform charge distributions on shaken insulating spheres. The resulting inter-particle torques, coupled with the orientation dependent force, can substantially increase attraction.

Electrospraying is a method of atomizing fluids using a high voltage potential difference.

This study elucidates the electrical charge transport during electrospinning of weak polyelectrolyte (poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)) solutions by employing current emission measurements.

Water drops floating at an interface can be self-assembled and controlled using electrostatic effects. Uncharged drops can be moved around as desired, while charged drops exhibit spontaneous directed motion.

Sliding drops induce a bipolar current in subsurface electrodes beneath a hydrophobic substrate. We show how it depends on substrate properties and how it can be optimized for energy harvesting.