Local Self-Assembly of Dissipative Structures Sustained by Substrate Diffusion.

Area of Science:

• Physical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Soft Matter Physics

Background:

• The interplay between molecular processes and macroscopic behavior is fundamental to natural systems and active matter.
• Dissipative self-assembly is a key mechanism for generating complex structures and functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the temporal evolution of a macroscopic system activated by local dissipative self-assembly.
• To characterize the resulting non-equilibrium steady state and the interdependence of its components.

Main Methods:

• Local activation of dissipative self-assembly via surfactant injection into a hydrogel.
• Substrate-templated formation of catalytic assemblies.
• Monitoring of system evolution, including assembly formation and concentration gradients.

Main Results:

• A macroscopic pseudo-non-equilibrium steady state (NESS) was achieved, sustained for over 4 days at high substrate concentrations.
• The NESS is characterized by localized energy-dissipating assemblies and persistent gradients of substrate and waste.
• A dynamic interdependence was observed: assemblies maintained gradients, while substrate diffusion stabilized assembly size.

Conclusions:

• Spatial control over dissipative processes can create long-lasting NESS, enabling the study of dissipative structures in the space-time domain.
• This work provides insights into biological systems and advances the development of active matter.
• The findings highlight the crucial role of coupled molecular and macroscopic dynamics in emergent phenomena.