Issue 11, 2017

3D coffee stains

Abstract

When a liquid droplet (e.g., coffee, wine, etc.) is splattered on a surface, the droplet dries in a ring-shaped stain. This widely observed pattern in everyday life occurs due to the phenomenon known as a coffee stain (or coffee ring) effect. While the droplet dries, the capillary flow moves and deposits the particles toward the pinned edges, which shows a 2D ring-like structure. Here we demonstrate the transition from a 2D to a 3D coffee stain that has a well-defined and hollow sphere-like structure, when the substrate surface is switched from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic. The 3D stain formation starts with the evaporation of the pinned aqueous colloidal droplet placed on a superhydrophobic surface that facilitates the particle flow towards the liquid–air interface. This leads to spherical skin formation and a cavity in the droplet. Afterwards the water loss in the cavity due to pervaporation leads to bubble nucleation and growth, until complete evaporation of the solvent. In addition to the superhydrophobicity of the surface, the concentration of the solution also has a significant effect on 3D coffee stain formation. Advantageously, 3D coffee stain formation in a pendant droplet configuration enables the construction of all-protein lasers by integrating silk fibroin with fluorescent proteins. No tools, components and/or human intervention are needed after the construction process is initiated; therefore, 3D coffee-stains hold promise for building self-assembled and functional 3D constructs and devices from colloidal solutions.

Graphical abstract: 3D coffee stains

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
23 jun 2017
Accepted
16 ago 2017
First published
24 ago 2017

Mater. Chem. Front., 2017,1, 2360-2367

3D coffee stains

I. B. Dogru, C. Kosak Soz, D. A. Press, R. Melikov, E. Begar, D. Conkar, E. N. Firat Karalar, E. Yilgor, I. Yilgor and S. Nizamoglu, Mater. Chem. Front., 2017, 1, 2360 DOI: 10.1039/C7QM00281E

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