Magnetic control of graphitic microparticles in aqueous solutions

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1817989116
• Publication Date: 2019-01-25T23:06:40Z
• Authors: Johnny Nguyen; Dario Valter Conca; Johannes Stein; Laura Bovo; Chris A. Howard; Isabel Llorente G...
• Keywords: Diamagnetism; Micrometer

Graphite is an inexpensive material with useful electrical, magnetic, thermal, and optical properties. It also biocompatible used universally as a substrate. Micrometer-sized graphitic particles in solution are therefore ideal candidates for novel lab-on-a-chip remote manipulation applications biomedicine, biophysics, chemistry, condensed-matter physics. However, submerged graphite not known to be amenable magnetic manipulation, the optimal method such applications. Here, we exploit diamagnetism of demonstrate contactless positioning control microflakes diamagnetic aqueous solutions. We develop theoretical model experimentally transport over distances [Formula: see text] peak velocities inhomogeneous fields. achieve fully lipid-coated NaCl solution, paving way previously undiscovered biomedical Our results prove that micrometer-sized can magnetically manipulated liquid media.