Gecko spatulae supplement electrostatic attraction by dust nanoparticles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 1, 2009 --

Background Prior gecko electrostatics was based on the premise that dust nanoparticles (NPs) are ubiquitous and attach in large numbers to walls and ceilings. NP detachment by spatula located at the tip of toe-hairs was shown to produce electromagnetic (EM) radiation that by the photoelectric effect produced charge, thereby allowing the gecko to walk on room surfaces by electrostatic attraction. About 45 million 0. Thermal response is prompt because of the nanoscale thickness of the annular disk. Upon detachment, the EM confinement requires the kT energy to vanish with conservation proceeding by the spatulae emitting VUV radiation. By the photoelectric effect, the VUV induces the surface to lose electrons to charge positive with the electrons charging the spatulae negative. The gecko is therefore held to the room surface by the spatulae induced electrostatic force to significantly supplement that induced from dust NPs.

Conclusions Gecko charging by detaching dust NPs with toe-hairs is limited by the availability of NPs on diverse wall and ceiling surfaes. However, the more than 600 million spatulae attached to the gecko toe-hairs that induce electrostatic attraction upon contact with the room surfaces more than compensate for the limited number of dust NPs to allow the gecko weight to easily be supported.

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