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Dynamic self-assembly of microscale rotors and swimmers.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Davies Wykes, Megan S 
Palacci, Jérémie 
Adachi, Takuji 
Ristroph, Leif 
Zhong, Xiao 

Abstract

Biological systems often involve the self-assembly of basic components into complex and functioning structures. Artificial systems that mimic such processes can provide a well-controlled setting to explore the principles involved and also synthesize useful micromachines. Our experiments show that immotile, but active, components self-assemble into two types of structure that exhibit the fundamental forms of motility: translation and rotation. Specifically, micron-scale metallic rods are designed to induce extensile surface flows in the presence of a chemical fuel; these rods interact with each other and pair up to form either a swimmer or a rotor. Such pairs can transition reversibly between these two configurations, leading to kinetics reminiscent of bacterial run-and-tumble motion.

Description

Keywords

Kinetics, Movement, Rotation

Journal Title

Soft Matter

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1744-683X
1744-6848

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)