TECHNOLOGY

Non-Aqueous Photorheological Fluids with Light-Tunable Viscosity

Print Save as PDF

Overview

Recently, interest has grown in developing fluids whose rheological properties are tunable by light. These photorheological fluids are desired to be single-phase solutions that are structured at the nanoscale, such as in microfluidics.
Researchers have developed a non-aqueous fluid formation that displays significant light-sensitivity in its rheological properties. Certain compositions undergo photogelling, being transformed from low-viscosity solutions to viscoelastic, gel-like fluids upon UV radiation. As a result of the UV irradiation, the zero-shear viscosities of these fluids increase by as much as four orders of magnitude, or in other words, a factor of 10,000. It does so while being a single-phase solution not requiring the suspension of particles while utilizing the light stimulus to allow for the rheology to be tuned at precise locations.
Thus, the invention designs a class of non-aqueous photoresponsive fluids whereby zero-shear viscosity can be increased by a factor of 10,000, and is based upon inexpensive, readily available molecules.

For further information, please contact the Office of Technology Commercialization, (301) 405-3947, E-mail: [email protected].

Contact Info

UM Ventures
0134 Lee Building
7809 Regents Drive
College Park, MD 20742
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (301) 405-3947 | Fax: (301) 314-9502