Self-Assembly of Catalytically Active Colloidal Molecules: Tailoring Activity Through Surface Chemistry
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: A heterogeneous and dilute suspension of catalytically active colloids is studied as a nonequilibrium analogue of ionic systems, which has the remarkable feature of action-reaction symmetry breaking. Symmetrically coated colloids are found to join up to form self-assembled molecules that could be inert or have spontaneous activity in the form of net translational velocity and spin depending on their symmetry properties and their constituents. The type of activity can be adjusted by changing the surface chemistry and ambient variables that control the surface reactions and the phoretic drift.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Authors: Rodrigo Soto, Ramin Golestanian
Institutions: University of Oxford, University of Chile
Language: English
Topic: Micro and Nano Robotics
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2061877047