'Sweeping Rods': the Sideways Self-Propulsion of Micro-Rods

Self-propulsion of artificial nano- and microswimmers is a relatively new and quickly growing research area. Their ability to perform directional motion due to self-generated force makes them promising candidates to manipulate microscopic matter in a controlled way. Most studied systems have Janus geometries with two surfaces of different chemical properties, which allows them to create an inhomogeneous distribution of reaction products along their boundary when they are placed in a suitable 'fuel'. A spherical Janus particle usually serves as a model system to study the mechanisms and dynamics of propulsion, since a Janus asymmetry already creates a complex anisotropic chemical profile along a particle boundary. However, anisotropic particles have already been shown to induce new phenomena, especially when they undergo interactions: between several active particles or those with passive particles and boundaries. Moreover, they are usually more beneficial for practical applications, since their shape can be tuned to yield larger efficiency depending on the task. For example, a rod propelled perpendicular to its long axis may provide larger efficiency in collecting microscopic cargo due to a vastly increased surface area. The influence of the liquid-fluid interfaces (LFI) on the active particle motion has only received limited attention so far, especially for the geometries beyond spherical. This dissertation aims to expand our understanding of anisotropic active particle interactions with the LFI for the case of sideways propelled rods.

Jaar van publicatie:2022

Toegankelijkheid:Closed