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Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Preparation and 3D Tracking of Catalytic Swimming Devices
Published on: July 1, 2016
Janus Colloids Actively Rotating on the Surface of Water
Xiaolu Wang1, Martin In1, Christophe Blanc1
1Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS , 34095 Montpellier, France.
Abstract:
Biological or artificial microswimmers move performing trajectories of different kinds such as rectilinear, circular, or spiral ones. Here, we report on circular trajectories observed for active Janus colloids trapped at the air-water interface. Circular motion is due to asymmetric and nonuniform surface properties of the particles caused by fabrication. Motion persistence is enhanced by the partial wetted state of the Janus particles actively moving in two dimensions at the air-water interface. The slowing down of in-plane and out-of-plane rotational diffusions is described and discussed.
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