Wettability Switch
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a wettability switch that comprises an electrochemically active element having a wetting surface with switchable wetting properties. The electrochemically active element comprises an electrochemically active polymer, and surface active molecules each having a lyophobic portion and a lyophilic portion. In the wettability switch, each of said surface active molecules exposes one of said lyophobic portion and said lyophilic portion towards said wetting surface, and the identity of said portion depends on an electrochemical state of said polymer.
36 Citations
60 Claims
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1-30. -30. (canceled)
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31. Wettability switch, comprising an electrochemically active element having a wetting surface with switchable wetting properties, said electrochemically active element comprising
an electrochemically active polymer, and surface active molecules each having a lyophobic portion and a lyophilic portion, wherein each of said surface active molecules exposes one of said lyophobic portion and said lyophilic portion towards said wetting surface, the identity of said portion depending on an electrochemical state of said polymer.
- 48. Method of manufacturing a wettability switch, said method comprising the step of forming an electrochemically active element that comprises an electrochemically active polymer and surface active molecules, such that said surface active molecules defines a wetting surface that is switchable between a lyophobic and a lyophilic state by means of an electrochemical reaction in said electrochemically active element.
Specification