Objective
We will study phase transitions and chemical and biological reactions in liquid mixtures
in electric field gradients. These new phase transitions are essential in statistical
physics and thermodynamics. We will examine theoretically the complex and yet unexplored
phase ordering dynamics in which droplets nucleate and move under the external nonuniform
force. We will look in detail at the interfacial instabilities which develop when the
field is increased. We will investigate how time-varying potentials produce
electromagnetic waves and how their spatial decay in the bistable liquid leads to phase
changes.
These transitions open a new and general way to control the spatio-temporal behaviour of
chemical reactions by directly manipulating the solvents' concentrations. When two or more
reagents are preferentially soluble in one of the mixture's components, field-induced
phase separation leads to acceleration of the reaction. When the reagents are soluble in
different solvents, field-induced demixing will lead to the reaction taking place at a
slow rate and at a two-dimensional surface. Additionally, the electric field allows us to
turn the reaction on or off. The numerical study and simulations will be complemented by
experiments. We will study theoretically and experimentally biochemical reactions. We will
find how actin-related structures are affected by field gradients. Using an electric field
as a tool we will control the rate of actin polymerisation. We will investigate if an
external field can damage cancer cells by disrupting their actin-related activity. The above
phenomena will be studied in a microfluidics environment. We will elucidate the separation
hydrodynamics occurring when thermodynamically miscible liquids flow in a channel and how
electric fields can reversibly create and destroy optical interfaces, as is relevant in
optofluidics. Chemical and biological reactions will be examined in the context of
lab-on-a-chip.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidics
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologylab on a chip
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesthermodynamics
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
- natural scienceschemical sciences
Call for proposal
ERC-2010-StG_20091028
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
ERC-SG - ERC Starting GrantHost institution
84105 Beer Sheva
Israel