Figure 2: Experimental realization.
From: Formation of printable granular and colloidal chains through capillary effects and dielectrophoresis
(a–c) Pulling a conductive chain out of a container filled with a dispersion of Ag-coated hollow silica spheres (radius ∼30 μm, density ∼0.17 g cm−3) in silicone oil (viscosity=100 mPa s, density∼0.96 g cm−3). The electrode is first dipped into the dispersion and then an AC electric voltage (600 V, f=20 kHz) is applied (t>0 s). When the electrode is raised, a conductive chain is pulled out of the dispersion. (d) A nearly 3-cm-long chain comprising hundreds of particles can be formed within a minute (ruler in centimeters). A similar experiment is presented in Supplementary Movie 1.
