Using Shape Diversity on the Way to Structure-Function Designs for Magnetic Micropropellers
- Synthetic microswimmers mimicking biological movements at the microscale have been developed in recent years. Actuating helical magnetic materials with a homogeneous rotating magnetic field is one of the most widespread techniques for propulsion at the microscale, partly because the actuation strategy revolves around a simple linear relationship between the actuating field frequency and the propeller velocity. However, full control of the swimmers’ motion has remained a challenge. Increasing the controllability of micropropellers is crucial to achieve complex actuation schemes that, in turn, are directly relevant for numerous applications. However, the simplicity of the linear relationship limits the possibilities and flexibilities of swarm control. Using a pool of randomly shaped magnetic microswimmers, we show that the complexity of shape can advantageously be translated into enhanced control. In particular, directional reversal of sorted micropropellers is controlled by theSynthetic microswimmers mimicking biological movements at the microscale have been developed in recent years. Actuating helical magnetic materials with a homogeneous rotating magnetic field is one of the most widespread techniques for propulsion at the microscale, partly because the actuation strategy revolves around a simple linear relationship between the actuating field frequency and the propeller velocity. However, full control of the swimmers’ motion has remained a challenge. Increasing the controllability of micropropellers is crucial to achieve complex actuation schemes that, in turn, are directly relevant for numerous applications. However, the simplicity of the linear relationship limits the possibilities and flexibilities of swarm control. Using a pool of randomly shaped magnetic microswimmers, we show that the complexity of shape can advantageously be translated into enhanced control. In particular, directional reversal of sorted micropropellers is controlled by the frequency of the actuating field. This directionality change is linked to the balance between magnetic and hydrodynamic forces. We further show an example of how this behavior can experimentally lead to simple and effective sorting of individual swimmers from a group. The ability of these propellers to reverse swimming direction solely by frequency increases the control possibilities and is an example for propeller designs, where the complexity needed for many applications is embedded directly in the propeller geometry rather than external factors such as actuation sequences.…
Autor*innen: | F. Bachmann, Klaas BenteORCiD, A. Codutti, D. Faivre |
---|---|
Dokumenttyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
Veröffentlichungsform: | Verlagsliteratur |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Titel des übergeordneten Werkes (Englisch): | Physical Review Applied |
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2019 |
Organisationseinheit der BAM: | 8 Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung |
8 Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung / 8.4 Akustische und elektromagnetische Verfahren | |
Verlag: | American Physical Society |
Jahrgang/Band: | 11 |
Ausgabe/Heft: | 3 |
Erste Seite: | 034039 |
DDC-Klassifikation: | Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften und zugeordnete Tätigkeiten |
Freie Schlagwörter: | Active Matter; Actuating materials; Low Reynolds number swimmers; Microstructure; Swarming |
Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM: | Material |
Material / Nano | |
DOI: | 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.11.034039 |
Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments: | Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access") |
Datum der Freischaltung: | 08.04.2019 |
Referierte Publikation: | Ja |
Datum der Eintragung als referierte Publikation: | 08.04.2019 |