Metallic microswimmers driven up the wall by gravity
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-21-2021
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.
Identifier
85110532015 (Scopus)
Publication Title
Soft Matter
External Full Text Location
https://doi.org/10.1039/d1sm00554e
e-ISSN
17446848
ISSN
1744683X
PubMed ID
34259695
First Page
6597
Last Page
6602
Issue
27
Volume
17
Grant
CG002
Fund Ref
National Science Foundation
Recommended Citation
Brosseau, Quentin; Usabiaga, Florencio Balboa; Lushi, Enkeleida; Wu, Yang; Ristroph, Leif; Ward, Michael D.; Shelley, Michael J.; and Zhang, Jun, "Metallic microswimmers driven up the wall by gravity" (2021). Faculty Publications. 3956.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/fac_pubs/3956