Bidirectional actuation of ferrofluid using micropatterned planar coils assisted by bias magnetic fields

This paper reports a ferrofluid control method that enables both attraction and repelling of ferrofluid on micropatterned planar coils coupled with permanent magnets. A combinational use of a controlled magnetic field and a bias field is shown to provide lateral forces that attract/repel the ferrofluid to/from the coil depending on the direction of the current passed through the coil. Active mirror devices whose mirrors are switched by ferrofluids are developed as a proof-of-concept of the actuation method toward the application to imaging devices and optical switches. The planar devices lithographically fabricated to have arrays of mirror-coil cells are used to demonstrate activation/deactivation of individual cells enabled by the bidirectional radial motion of the ferrofluid layer with ∼100 μm thickness. The static and dynamic behaviors of the ferrofluid in the devices are characterized through an image processing approach. Multiple mirror cells are selectively and simultaneously operated to show enhanced ferrofluid control uniquely available with the two modes of the actuation as well as to demonstrate pattern generation with the arrays.

► Ferrofluid actuation is controlled using planar coils in combination with bias magnetic fields.
► The bias-assisted actuation method enables both attraction and repelling of ferrofluid on a planar coil.
► The use of bias field is also effective in minimizing driving current for the coils as well as thermal effects.
► Ferrofluid-based arrayed mirror devices operated with the new actuation principle are developed and demonstrated experimentally.