Diffusive dynamics on paper matrix

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 109; no. 22
• Main Authors: Chaudhury, Kaustav, Kar, Shantimoy, Chakraborty, Suman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 28-11-2016
• Subjects: Applied physics; Substrates; Transport
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4966992

Writing with ink on a paper and the rapid diagnostics of diseases using paper cartridge, despite their remarkable diversities from application perspective, both involve the motion of a liquid from a source on a porous hydrophilic substrate. Here we bring out a generalization in the pertinent dynamics by appealing to the concerned ensemble-averaged transport with reference to the underlying molecular picture. Our results reveal that notwithstanding the associated complexities and diversities, the resultant liquid transport characteristics on a paper matrix, in a wide variety of applications, resemble universal diffusive dynamics. Agreement with experimental results from diversified applications is generic and validates our unified theory.