School of Electrical & Computer Engineering

EEET2267 - Engineering Design 4A

Research/Design Proposal






STUDENT INFORMATION



Student Name:

Nantawan Srichan

Student Number:

3356476




Academic supervisor:

Prof.Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh

Associate supervisor:
(if applicable)





PROJECT TITLE: a framework made of micro/nano sized liquid marbles
1. INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION:In this section you should give a brief overview of the global
application and motivation for your project. (one or two paragraphs)

In this work a framework of micro/nano size liquid marbles will be developed. This framework is made of
liquid marbles which are made of small oil droplets formed by ultrasonications. The oil droplets are
stabilized in water by encapsulating them with nanoparticles.

The framework has a large surface to volume ratio and made of metal oxides or which are functional for
many applications. As a result, the framework can be potentially used for developing novel electronic,
optical and sensing devices. In this work the electronic and sensing devices based on such frameworks will
be fabricated and fully investigated.


PROJECT TITLE: a framework made of micro/nano sized liquid marbles
2. LITERATURE REVIEW: Within this section you should identify the existing knowledge in the area of your
project, ensuring you evaluate and critique the current state-of-the-art. Where appropriate, references
should be cited. (approximately one page)

When small amount of water, oil or other liquids is dropped and rolled on powder, we could see the
encapsulated liquids can be move like non-wetting soft solid. Liquid droplets which covering entirely with
non-wetting solid power is Liquid Marbles [1]. The properties of liquid marbles in different core liquids
and Nano particles powder have been investigated in terms of mobility, increasing of respond surfaces,
substrate interaction, emulsion performance and etc.

The first interesting property of soft solid spherical marbles is velocity. The smaller droplets are, the faster
they can move[2]. This can be implied that we have created the nano-size of viscous liquid in order to move
them easily. Furthermore, the surface per volume ratio would be incredibly increased due to size reducing.
This could be applied for sensitive gas sensor. [3, 4]

The encapsulated liquids have abilities to be transported across solid plates, and also float over liquid
substrate without contamination. There is a study which proved by NaOH liquid marbles. The core NaOH
droplets did not leave a colour trace on solid substrates which is different from the normal drop[5]. Because
of the non-directed contact between liquid marbles and substrate, the liquid marbles could be applied to be
the effective carriers. Also nano-size liquid marbles could be driven by small amount of force such as
magnetic field. A magnetic field can also manipulate the magnetic liquid marble as long as they are coating
their surfaces or putting magnetic components inside their core liquid[6].

Some studies shows that the advantages of both core liquid and encapsulating nano-particles can be
combined in liquid marble form. The experiment of liquid metal and metal oxide was demonstrated by W.
Zhang[7]. The liquid marbles with galinstan core and metal oxide coating particles can be the sensitive Pb
2+

sensor because of the better charge separation and defence electron-hole recombination. Moreover, the
sonication duration assists the oxidation process between metal core liquid and oxide nano size particles.
This results in the better performance due to the more functional particles which adhere strongly over core
liquid.

The stabilized particles can be the effective interface in the emulsion process between oil and water. The
stabilisations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic particles have been demonstrated by Murakami and Binks[8].
The hydrophilic particles which tend to attach to water can make the oil core of liquid marbles become
stable. On the other hand, the hydrophobic particles can stabilize water core marble in the oil substrate.
This study could lead into the selection of core liquid and encapsulating particles in different liquid
substrate.

3. RESEARCH/DESIGN PROPOSAL: Please provide a brief summary of the proposed research program under
the subheadings below in language which is understandable to people outside the discipline area. Where
appropriate, major references should be cited to situate the proposal within the current body of knowledge.
3.1 SCOPE: Outline the limits of the project. What will and wont it investigate with respect to the global
application and literature.(one paragraph)
In this work, different types of oils marbles structures will be synthesized and characterised. The different
type of oils such as olive, sesame or rice brand oil could give different results due to the difference in liquid
density and chemical components. Also using the other liquid in sonication process may give the interesting
results. In addition, the possible applications of oil marbles like gas sensor, or electronic device will be
characterised.
Electrical & Computer Engineering


PROJECT TITLE: a framework made of micro/nano sized liquid marbles
3.2 OBJECTIVES: List of the objectives of the project.(bullet points)

Synthesize and characterise frameworks made of liquid marbles of nano/micro dimensions
Use the frameworks for the fabrication of sensors (gas sensors as the first target)
Use the frameworks for the development of electronic devices and characterize their performance
(a simple p-n junction)

3.3 EXPECTED DELIVERABLES: List of the proposed deliverables of the project.(bullet points)

Surface morphology of different types of oil marbles
Different types of oil marbles characteristics in different kind of substrates/particles.
Comparing performance results liquid marbles and pure functional core liquid/particles
Fabrication and sensitivity of micro/nano sized liquid marbles gas sensor.
Characteristics which lead into electronic device development

3.4 DESIGN & RESEARCH QUESTIONS: Pose questions that address key parts of your project. Design
questions result in project outcomes when answered.Research questions result in new knowledge when
answered. (at least 4 design and 1 research question)

Why do we need small components of liquid marbles? Any advantage?
Is there any effect of sonication duration to oils structures as same as the metal structure?
Is there any effect due to different bath liquid during sonication process?
Does increase of oxidation change on oil structures after sonication?
Is there any results difference when the kind of oil has been changed?
Is the gas sensitivity changed due to size reducing after sonication?
Which characteristic of liquid marbles can be benefits in electronic device?

3.5 RATIONALE: Why it is important to undertake this project? What are the anticipated benefits to the
community and/or industry? How will the project build on or add to the current body of knowledge?
Where appropriate, major references should be cited. (one or two paragraphs)


We need highly sensitive sensors increasing the surface area of the sensors allows the
development of highly sensitive transducers
Using the liquid marble frameworks, it is possible to make flexible electronics which are important
components of future electronics industries
For nano size of liquid marbles with the same functionalities of their components, the core liquids
and coating particles can be carriers which benefits in medical and cosmetic fields.


4. METHODOLOGY:Provide a brief description of the research/design method framework for the project,
organised in several major investigative steps. Give each step a title and in the description of the activity
explain how answers to the design and research questions listed earlier are to be obtained. Also indicate the
testing planned and metrics/specifications tested (what outcome/result/parameter are you going to
measure and what value are you hoping to achieve?) to evaluate the success of the activity and/or the
answer to the design/research question.Assess technical risk and mitigation. Add more rows if necessary.
Electrical & Computer Engineering


Step
No.
Title of Activity Activity Description & Relation to Design/Research Questions
1.

Literature Review

Description:
To understand principles, existing knowledgeof liquid marbles

Explain how it addresses a Design/Research question:
To know why we do need liquid marbles. Also their benefits in different sort of
components and environment which are core liquid, encapsulated particle and substrates.

Test plan (with metrics/specifications):
Collect and have literature reviews about liquid marbles

Technical Risk Assessment/Risk Mitigation:-

2.
Synthesis and
Characterization
of oil structures :

Different
sonication
duration times

Description:
To characterise different types of oils structures when sonication duration times have
been changed

Explain how it addresses a Design/Research question:
With different sonication duration, we could found the relation between amount of
particles and the sonication period. Also to prove that oxidation process corresponds
inparticle capsulation process or not.

Test plan (with metrics/specifications):
Prepare oil marbles structures with different sonication duration (2, 5, 10, 20, 40
and 60 minutes)
Compare surface morphology of oil structures with different sonication duration
by SEM images
Compare chemical component of oils structures with different sonication duration
by EDX mapping

Technical Risk Assessment/Risk Mitigation:
Measuring scaled in SEM

3.
Synthesis and
Characterization
of oil structures

Different bath
liquid during
sonication
process

Description:
To compare the particles adhesion for liquid marbles in different bath liquid during
sonication process

Explain how it addresses a Design/Research question:
The bath liquid that assists the encapsulation process could be found in order to improve
stability of oil core liquid marbles

Test plan (with metrics/specifications):
Prepare oil core liquid marbles structures with different bath liquid
Compare surface morphology and/or chemical components

Technical Risk Assessment/Risk Mitigation:
Core liquid size control

4.
Synthesis and
Characterization
of oil structures

Different types of
oils (core ofliquid
marbles)

Description:
To identify the types of oils which give the better performance in term of gas sensors and
electronic device applications

Explain how it addresses a Design/Research question:
Different oils could have chemical components or even liquid density differences.To
support the applications that we need to fabricate, the proper core liquid should be
Electrical & Computer Engineering


PROJECT TITLE: a framework made of micro/nano sized liquid marbles
defined.

Test plan (with metrics/specifications):
Prepare oil marbles with different core liquids
Compare surface morphology in term of amount of coating particles

Technical Risk Assessment/Risk Mitigation:
Core liquid size control

5.
Application of
micro/Nano sized
oil core liquid
marbles

Gas sensor

Description:
Due to our first target application is gas sensor, the sensitivity base on liquid marbles
knowledge should be provided

Explain how it addresses a Design/Research question:
To prove that the surface to volume ratio which has been changed because of sonication
process can improve gas detection sensitivity

Test plan (with metrics/specifications):
Prepare oil core liquid marbles with gas detected coating powder
Observe sensitivity change with same amount of particle

Technical Risk Assessment/Risk Mitigation:
Amount of particle and gas control

6.
Application of
micro/Nanosized
oil core liquid
marbles

Electronic device

Description:
To define the characteristics which expand performance of electronic device

Explain how it addresses a Design/Research question:
In electronic device, electron-hole pair recombination could lead to the potential of the
system. Also when the respond surface has been increased because of sonication, there
is a possibility that electron-hole recombination can be defended and also increase more
free electron in the process

Test plan (with metrics/specifications):
Prepare oil core liquid marbles with functional coating powder
Observe chemical component change with same amount of particle

Technical Risk Assessment/Risk Mitigation:
Amount of particle and gas control


TIMELINE: Gantt Chart showing shaded time lines. Activities should be the same as the methodology steps.

Title of Activity
T i me l i n e s
F i r s t S e me s t e r F i n a l S e me s t e r
w1-
w2
w3-
w4
w5 w6 w7-
w8
w9-
w10
w11-
w12
w1-
w2
w3-
w4
w5 w6 w7-
w8
w9-
w10
w11
-
w12
1. Literature Review
2. Synthesis and
Characterization of oil
structures :
Different sonication duration
times

Electrical & Computer Engineering


PROJECT TITLE: a framework made of micro/nano sized liquid marbles
3. Synthesis and
Characterization of oil
structures :
Different bath liquid during
sonication process


4. Synthesis and
Characterization of oil
structures :
Different types of oils (core of
liquid marbles)


5. Application of micro/Nano
sized oil core liquid
marbles :
Gas sensor


6. Application of micro/Nano
sized oil core liquid
marbles :
Electronic device


7. Review and summary
5. PROPOSED DESIGN
5.1 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE DESIGN OPTIONS: Describe the design options that could satisfy the
project requirements, and the strengths and weaknesses of each. Include the proposed solution as one of
the options. (maximum one page)

The liquid metal marbles have been used as an alternative approach. In liquid metal/metal oxide framework
study by Wei Zhang [7], liquid marbles which made of galinstan with WO
3
encapsulating powder have been
examined in many perspectives.

First, the effects of sonication duration to morphology and particles adhesion have been investigated.
Galinstan could form the spherical structuresthat its dimensions can be reduced rely on sonication duration
but liquid marbles are more covered by nanoparticles when taking longer sonication. The article referred to
increasing of oxidation process which helpsencapsulation of coating powder to core liquids. There is a
possibility that there could be the same oxidation process with different core liquid. In addition, the
sonication duration for core liquid change might give different results.

Other gallium containing liquids also give the spherical structures same as galinstan. However, mercury did
not form the stable spherical shapes. This is an interesting point that could be applied in this study in term
of core liquid influences. There could be some kind of oil that cannot be stable after sonication as mercury
did.

The liquid marblesin this paper are synthesised by sonication in DI water only. That would be understood
thatthey tried to avoid any effect from other component in processes. However, the most effective results
have been looking for in the commercial system. Consequently, there could be other sonication bath liquids
which improve total efficiency of particle adhesion. Moreover, it would be relied on other aspects such as
sonication duration and kind of oils which used to be core liquid as well. So the optimum recipe which suite
for interesting application should be defined.

Electrical & Computer Engineering


PROJECT TITLE: a framework made of micro/nano sized liquid marbles
5.2 JUSTIFICATIONOF THE DECISION TO CHOOSE THE PROPOSED DESIGN: Explain the reasoning behind
your selection of the proposed solution from the options above. (one or two paragraphs)

This work is about nano-size modules, so setting or measurement details which could be influent to the
results would be collected and confirm in order to get reliable results. Furthermore, to achieve a possible
recipe which could give the most effective results, sonication bath liquids, duration and core liquid will be
variable factors.

5.3 PROPOSED DESIGN DETAILS: Provide design information for your proposed solution.(approximately
one page)

It is common to know that when we drop any liquid on plates, we could see them become wet. In our daily
life, we could see those small drops are covered by powder when small liquids are dropped on it that has
been shown in Fig.1. Also we could found that the soft solids or liquid marbles which are encapsulated
by powder could be rolled on the solid substrates without wetness from the original core liquid.

With this concept, the micro/nano size liquid
marbles has been studied and investigated in
many dimensions such as motions, speeds,
shapes, mechanism, applications and etc.
Accordingly, sonication is used in their synthesis
process in order to make sure that the
suspension liquids would have bond potentials
with coating power, and also size of liquid
marbles will be small enough for further
applications.
Figure 1Schematic of reaction in normal liquid droplet and
liquidmarble

It could be seen in Fig 2a that large core liquid suspension and coating powder are separate from each other
in sonication bath liquid.Fig 2b shows core liquid minimise reaction and nano particles spreading which
could be assisted by sonication process. Moreover, it would increase oxidation which supports the
connection bond between liquid suspension and encapsulating particles. Core liquid would be entirely
coated by coating particles after sonication which is illustrate in Fig 2c and properties of both components,
liquid suspensions and encapsulating particles, can be combined and lead to application development.

Figure 2a)core liquid suspensions and coating powder in normal environment b) while sonication process c) after sonication
process, core liquids are entirly encapsulated by coathing powder
When size of marbles are minimised, surface per volume will be increased. This feature would give benefits
for sensor application, especially gas sensors. Sensitivity of gas sensors would be improved when the gas
detective surface is enlarged. Furthermore, it can be developed in liquid-and-functional particle
transportation. Most of the electronic device fundamentals are based on free electron carrier generated
and recombined processes whichencapsulated with functional particles liquid marble could contribute in
the processes.

Electrical & Computer Engineering


PROJECT TITLE: a framework made of micro/nano sized liquid marbles
REFERENCES: List references here. Number reference consecutively as they appear in the document. (IEEE
format)

[1] P. Aussillous and D. Quere, "Liquid marbles," Nature, vol. 411, pp. 924-927, 06/21/print 2001.
[2] L. Mahadevan and Y. Pomeau, "Rolling droplets," Physics of Fluids (1994-present), vol. 11, pp. 2449-
2453, 1999.
[3] J. Tian, T. Arbatan, X. Li, and W. Shen, "Liquid marble for gas sensing," Chemical Communications,
vol. 46, pp. 4734-4736, 2010.
[4] G. McHale and M. I. Newton, "Liquid marbles: principles and applications," Soft Matter, vol. 7, pp.
5473-5481, 2011.
[5] E. Bormashenko, Y. Bormashenko, A. Musin, and Z. Barkay, "On the Mechanism of Floating and
Sliding of Liquid Marbles," ChemPhysChem, vol. 10, pp. 654-656, 2009.
[6] P. Aussillous and D. Qur, "Properties of liquid marbles," Proceedings of the Royal Society A:
Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Science, vol. 462, pp. 973-999, March 8, 2006 2006.
[7] W. Zhang, J. Z. Ou, S.-Y. Tang, V. Sivan, D. D. Yao, K. Latham, et al., "Liquid Metal/Metal Oxide
Frameworks," Advanced Functional Materials, pp. n/a-n/a, 2014.
[8] R. Murakami, H. Moriyama, T. Noguchi, M. Yamamoto, and B. P. Binks, "Effects of the Density
Difference between Water and Oil on Stabilization of Powdered Oil-in-Water Emulsions," Langmuir,
vol. 30, pp. 496-500, 2014/01/21 2013.


Student's Signature: ...Date: / /



Electrical & Computer Engineering