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Fabrication and Electric Field-Driven Active Propulsion of Patchy Microellipsoids
Jin Gyun Lee1, Ahmed Al Harraq1, Kyle J M Bishop2
1Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|April 20, 2021
Summary
Researchers engineered patchy ellipsoids to control their movement in fluids. Varying metal patch shapes on these active colloids precisely dictates their linear, circular, or helical trajectories in electric fields.
Area of Science:
- Colloid science
- Soft matter physics
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Active colloids mimic biological microorganisms, consuming energy to move in fluids.
- Understanding how particle surface and shape influence motion is crucial but challenging.
- Anisotropy in colloids is key to breaking fluid flow symmetry for propulsion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how particle shape and surface anisotropy affect the trajectories of ellipsoidal colloids.
- To deconvolute the impact of patch shape versus overall particle shape on propulsion.
- To establish design principles for controlling active colloid motion.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ellipsoidal particles with precisely shaped metal patches.
- Utilizing physical vapor deposition to control patch geometry.
- Observing particle trajectories in alternating current (AC) electric fields.
Main Results:
- Ellipsoids exhibited linear, circular, and helical paths dependent on surface patch shape.
- Helical trajectory parameters (pitch, diameter) were tunable by altering patch asymmetry.
- Patch shape was influenced by the self-assembled structure during deposition.
Conclusions:
- Surface patch shape is a critical determinant of active colloid trajectory.
- Patch asymmetry along longitudinal and transverse axes allows for trajectory control.
- Heuristics based on patch asymmetry can guide the design of particles with specific nonlinear paths.
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