Ferrofluids in microfluidic arrays
Paramagnetic ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions of ferromagnetic nanoparticles dispersed in an isotropic medium. Otherwise randomly oriented particles align when subjected to external magnetic field.
Recently, spontaneous ferromagnetic ordering was achieved in a liquid crystal/magnetic nanoplates coloid. We study dynamics of such true ferrofluids in microfluidic arrays and coupling between orientational order, fluid flow and magnetic fields.