Metallic microswimmers driven up the wall by gravity

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Experiments on autophoretic bimetallic nanorods propelling within a fuel of hydrogen peroxide show that tail-heavy swimmers preferentially orient upwards and ascend along inclined planes. We show that such gravitaxis is strongly facilitated by interactions with solid boundaries, allowing even ultraheavy microswimmers to climb nearly vertical surfaces. Theory and simulations show that the buoyancy or gravitational torque that tends to align the rods is reinforced by a fore-aft drag asymmetry induced by hydrodynamic interactions with the wall.

Source: Soft Matter

DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00554e

Authors: Quentin Brosseau, Florencio Balboa Usabiaga, Enkeleida Lushi, Yang Wu, Leif Ristroph, Michael D. Ward, Michael J. Shelley, Jun Zhang

Institutions: Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, Simons Foundation, Flatiron Institute, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New York University Shanghai

Language: English

Topic: Micro and Nano Robotics

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, “la Caixa” Foundation, New York University Abu Dhabi, European Commission, Tamkeen, Fundación Bancaria Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, Division of Materials Research

OpenAlex ID: W3048406149