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Boundaries can steer active Janus spheres

Author

Listed:
  • Sambeeta Das

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Astha Garg

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Andrew I. Campbell

    (University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK)

  • Jonathan Howse

    (University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK)

  • Ayusman Sen

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Darrell Velegol

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Ramin Golestanian

    (Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford)

  • Stephen J. Ebbens

    (University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK)

Abstract

The advent of autonomous self-propulsion has instigated research towards making colloidal machines that can deliver mechanical work in the form of transport, and other functions such as sensing and cleaning. While much progress has been made in the last 10 years on various mechanisms to generate self-propulsion, the ability to steer self-propelled colloidal devices has so far been much more limited. A critical barrier in increasing the impact of such motors is in directing their motion against the Brownian rotation, which randomizes particle orientations. In this context, here we report directed motion of a specific class of catalytic motors when moving in close proximity to solid surfaces. This is achieved through active quenching of their Brownian rotation by constraining it in a rotational well, caused not by equilibrium, but by hydrodynamic effects. We demonstrate how combining these geometric constraints can be utilized to steer these active colloids along arbitrary trajectories.

Suggested Citation

  • Sambeeta Das & Astha Garg & Andrew I. Campbell & Jonathan Howse & Ayusman Sen & Darrell Velegol & Ramin Golestanian & Stephen J. Ebbens, 2015. "Boundaries can steer active Janus spheres," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9999
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9999
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefania Ketzetzi & Melissa Rinaldin & Pim Dröge & Joost de Graaf & Daniela J. Kraft, 2022. "Activity-induced interactions and cooperation of artificial microswimmers in one-dimensional environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Sánchez, R. & Díaz-Leyva, P., 2018. "Self-assembly and speed distributions of active granular particles," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 499(C), pages 11-19.
    3. Zhiyuan Zhang & Alexander Sukhov & Jens Harting & Paolo Malgaretti & Daniel Ahmed, 2022. "Rolling microswarms along acoustic virtual walls," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Cristóvão S. Dias & Manish Trivedi & Giovanni Volpe & Nuno A. M. Araújo & Giorgio Volpe, 2023. "Environmental memory boosts group formation of clueless individuals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Adérito Fins Carreira & Adam Wysocki & Christophe Ybert & Mathieu Leocmach & Heiko Rieger & Cécile Cottin-Bizonne, 2024. "How to steer active colloids up a vertical wall," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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