Anthony Reich, a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts, accidentally obtained a liquid of oil, water, and magnetized nickel particles that constantly restores shape.
It is noted that Reich aimed to create an emulsion of oil, water, and nickel particles, and when he mixed all the components in a test tube, he saw that the mixture took on a completely unexpected shape. Repeated attempts by the scientist led to the same result.
According to the co-author of the study, Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts According to Thomas Russell, this is really strange, since a mixture of immiscible liquids should return to equilibrium as an emulsion. Normally, in an emulsion, water and oil form spherical droplets that occupy a minimal surface area. However, the shape formed by Reich’s mixture each time looked like an ancient Greek vase and occupied a much larger surface area at the boundary between water and oil.
It turned out that magnetized nickel particles increase interfacial tension at the oil-oil interface. They are placed in such a way that they create something similar to a barrier between oil and water. Under the influence of tension, they take on an energy form that looks like a vase. And they hold it. Shaking only temporarily destroys the structure, which later returns to the same shape.
Although the second law of thermodynamics tells us that systems tend to increase entropy, involuntary the emergence of an organized structure does not contradict any laws. It’s just that in this case, the forces of magnetic interaction are dominant. This leads to the system entering a different stable state that has never been observed before.
Currently, scientists do not see any practical application of the results of this unusual study, but it is very important for materials science and fluid physics It shows how unusual the behavior of systems at the nanoscale and opens up new ways to create materials with predefined properties, such as self-healing surfaces or revolutionary ways to deliver drugs to the body.
The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Physics
Source: LiveScience