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We demonstrate here a proof-of-concept experiment that microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can be actuated using photoelectrowetting. In order to demonstrate this, a 30 \mu m thick aluminum cantilever is actuated using an ordinary white light source. A deflection of 56 \mu m is observed using a light irradiance equal to \approx 1000 W m-2 at a bias of 7 V. The deflection of the cantilever relies on the recently observed photoelectrowetting effect [Sci. Rep.1, 184 (2011)]. Such "actuation at a distance" could be useful for optical addressing and control of autonomous wireless sensors, MEMS and microsystems.

An impetus in the field of mass spectrometry (MS) analysis occurred in the early 1990s with the invention of two novel and 'soft' ionization methods, electrospray ionization (ESI) by John Fenn and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) by Koichi Tanaka, who both shared the Nobel-prize in Chemistry in 2002. http://www.springer.com/chemistry/analytical/book/978-0-85404-129-9