The article titled, "Reversible Self-Coiling of Microfibers with Tailored Surfaces via Elastocapillarity" was published August 21st, 2025 in the Small Research Journal. This paper was authored by Xin Hu*, Vincent J. Einck*, Eric Chia, James Nicolas Pagaduan*, Demi E. Moed*, Todd Emrick*, Reika Katsumata*, Stephen S. Nonnenmann, James J. Watkins*, and Alfred J. Crosby*.
Coiled microfibers, ubiquitous in nature, serve as critical building blocks with capabilities including stimuli responsiveness, mechanical reinforcement, and protective functions. Despite their potential, replicating nature’s control over microfiber coiling has remained a challenge, particularly when attempting to achieve reversible coiling. In this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) network microfibers are produced and reactive ion etching (RIE) is employed to induce a differential interfacial energy that drives spontaneous self-coiling in fluidic environments. This approach harnesses elastocapillarity to control microfiber coiling through tailored adjustments ofRIE treatment and fluid surface tension. This coiling mechanism is employed to reversibly wrap and unwrappoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres, highlighting potential paths for future applications in fields ranging from sensors to soft robotics.