Student Accidentally Creates ‘Shape-Recovering Liquid’ by Mixing Oil, Water and Nickel - Defy the Laws of Thermodynamics

For decades, scientists have developed several theories that dictate the human world. One of these theories is the laws of thermodynamics, and these laws showcase how systems in the world function. However, a new creation by a young mind has raised some eyebrows when it comes to these laws, stated Live Science. Findings regarding this creation have been published in Nature Physics.

Anthony Raykh, a polymer science and engineering graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was the first to claim that a particular mixture was not following the thermodynamics principle. This mixture, containing oil, water, and magnetized particles, after shaking, formed what looked like a Grecian urn. The revelation was surprising for researchers associated with the study, who also conducted the exercise. The mixture was called a "shape-recovering liquid" by the experts. 

As per the laws of thermodynamics, the constituents of the liquid should have separated into a clear top and bottom. The laws of thermodynamics imply that constituents in a mixture that do not blend, before emulsifying, try to minimize the interfacial area between the elements. The interfacial area refers to the boundary that exists between two constituents. But in this case, instead of separating, the mixture formed a distinct shape.

Usually, in emulsions of oil and water, the liquids come together to form spherical droplets. This mixture has less surface area than the Grecian urn that was created by the "shape recovering liquid." This inconsistency was observed every time the mixture was shaken in a vial, and stunned researchers as it did not follow the thermodynamic principles. These principles explain how factors like energy, work, heat, and temperature function with respect to each other in a system. 

Raykh collaborated with Russell and David Hoagland, professor of polymer science and engineering at UMass Amherst, and with colleagues at Tufts and Syracuse universities, to understand the reason behind this change, stated Phys.org. Several simulations were conducted, which made the team conclude that strong magnetism could have caused the constituents to behave in such a manner. The study took a detailed view of the individual magnetized nickel nanoparticles present in the boundary between water and oil, and speculated that the strength of magnetism in these nanoparticles could be interfering with the emulsification process. 

Typically, particles involved in an oil-and-water mixture decrease the interface tension between the two liquids. However, in this case, the particles are possibly so magnetized that they are increasing the interface tension. The increase is bending the boundary line between the two liquids into a curve, not allowing the emulsification to happen, as per the principles of thermodynamics. At present, there are no applications for this discovery in the real world. Though Raykh is hopeful that it can have an impact on the workings of soft-matter physics.

Scientists do not consider the mixture to be proof that thermodynamic principles do not work, stated Live Science. They clarify that the phenomenon was observed in a mixture, rather than a system, which the principles cater to. For them, it's just a strange case as of now.