New Investigations on Ferrofluidics: Ferrofluidic Marbles and Magnetic-Field-Driven Drops on Superhydrophobic Surfaces

The motion of ferrofluidic marbles on flat polymer substrates is reported. Nanopowders of polyvinylidene fluoride and gamma Fe2O3 were used for the preparation of ferrofluidic marbles. The marbles are activated easily with an external magnetic field. A microfluidic device based on ferrofluidic marbles (the ferrofluidic bearing) is described. Velocities of marbles as high as 25 +/- 3 cm/s were registered. The sliding of ferrofluidic drops on superhydrophobic surfaces was studied. It was demonstrated that the threshold magnetic force necessary for the drop displacement depends linearly on the drop radius, thus the motion of the drop is defined by the processes occurring in the vicinity of the triple line only.