Liquid-Delectrophoresis for Wetting and Droplet Control on Transparent Surfaces.

液体介电电泳（L-DEP）是指使用在非常接近表面的区域中产生的电场来控制液体。L-DEP可用于增强和控制润湿或使用液膜创建光学器件。本项目将探索这种液滴和润湿控制方法在汽车应用中的潜力。特别感兴趣的是将这些技术应用于透明表面，例如车辆挡风玻璃或相机镜头，其总体目标是控制甚至从这些表面脱落水和污垢，而不需要机械擦拭器。例如，使用这种技术，可以使水滴扩散成非常薄的薄膜，以增加能见度，而无需将水排出。还可以为液滴创建限定的移动模式，以便从表面去除液滴。该项目将着眼于以下领域，并决定最好的一个是适合的目的，并满足赞助公司，JLR的需求。表面涂层，以提高电场的传播效果，同时降低工作电压，从而降低功耗。2.表面涂层，以允许上述，同时也保持良好的透明度，表面，如挡风玻璃和相机镜头。3.电极设计可控制液滴扩散的性质，即根据应用的性质，用于形成透明膜的双轴扩散或用于表面流动诱导的单轴扩散。4.双用途电极测试。(Can现有的加热电极可以用来产生L-DEP电场和扩散效应？）5.能够通过在表面上形成薄膜或诱导流动来清洁表面

Liquid-Dielectrophoresis (L-DEP) refers to the control of liquids using electric fields created in the region very close to a surface. L-DEP can be used to enhance and control the wetting or to create optical devices using liquid film.This project will explore the potential of this methods of droplet and wetting control for automotive applications. A particular interest will be the application of these techniques on transparent surfaces such as vehicle windscreens or camera lenses, with the overall goal of controlling and even shedding both water and dirt from such surfaces without the need for a mechanical wiper. For instance, using this technique it may be possible to cause water droplets to spread into a very thin film to increase visibility without the need to shed the water. It may also be possible to create defined movement patterns for droplets in order to remove droplet from the surface. The project will look at the following areas and decide on the best one that is fit for purpose and meets the needs of the sponsoring company, JLR.1. Surface coating to enhance the spreading effect of the electric field whilst reducing the operating voltages and thus the power consumption.2. Surface coating to allow the above, whilst also maintaining good transparency for surfaces such as windscreens and camera lenses.3. Electrode design to control the nature of the droplet spreading i.e. bi-axial for transparent film creation or uni-axial spreading for surface flow induction, depending on the nature of the application.4. Dual purpose electrode testing. (Can existing heating electrodes be used to produce the L-DEP electric fields and the spreading effect?)5. Capabilities to clean surfaces using either film creation or induced flow on a surface