Controlled Generation of Single Microbubble at Solid Surfaces by a Nanosecond Pressure Pulse

Optical excitation of a carbon nanotube composite is used to produce a high-amplitude, nanosecond-long pressure pulse, thus generating a single microbubble with high spatial accuracy. The resulting tightly focused pressure gradient yields a deterministic nucleation process that is independent of surface heterogeneities that typically induce nucleation. This allows for applications such as selective surface modification for functional materials as well as improved ``histotripsy'': cell-level microsurgery for cancer or tissue dysplasias.