Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems Article 2017

Non-Equilibrium Assembly of Light-Activated Colloidal Mixtures

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The collective phenomena exhibited by artificial active matter systems present novel routes to fabricating out-of-equilibrium microscale assemblies. Here, the crystallization of passive silica colloids into well-controlled 2D assemblies is shown, which is directed by a small number of self-propelled active colloids. The active colloids are titania–silica Janus particles that are propelled when illuminated by UV light. The strength of the attractive interaction and thus the extent of the assembled clusters can be regulated by the light intensity. A remarkably small number of the active colloids is sufficient to induce the assembly of the dynamic crystals. The approach produces rationally designed colloidal clusters and crystals with controllable sizes, shapes, and symmetries. This multicomponent active matter system offers the possibility of obtaining structures and assemblies that cannot be found in equilibrium systems.

Author(s): Singh, Dhruv P. and Choudhury, Udit and Fischer, Peer and Mark, Andrew G.
Journal: Advanced Materials
Volume: 29
Pages: 1701328
Year: 2017
Month: June
Day: 20
Project(s):
Bibtex Type: Article (article)
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201701328
State: Published
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201701328
Electronic Archiving: grant_archive
Note: 32

BibTex

@article{2017singh,
  title = {Non-Equilibrium Assembly of Light-Activated Colloidal Mixtures},
  journal = {Advanced Materials},
  abstract = {The collective phenomena exhibited by artificial active matter systems present novel routes to fabricating out-of-equilibrium microscale assemblies. Here, the crystallization of passive silica colloids into well-controlled 2D assemblies is shown, which is directed by a small number of self-propelled active colloids. The active colloids are titania–silica Janus particles that are propelled when illuminated by UV light. The strength of the attractive interaction and thus the extent of the assembled clusters can be regulated by the light intensity. A remarkably small number of the active colloids is sufficient to induce the assembly of the dynamic crystals. The approach produces rationally designed colloidal clusters and crystals with controllable sizes, shapes, and symmetries. This multicomponent active matter system offers the possibility of obtaining structures and assemblies that cannot be found in equilibrium systems.},
  volume = {29},
  pages = {1701328},
  month = jun,
  year = {2017},
  note = {32},
  slug = {adma-adma201701328},
  author = {Singh, Dhruv P. and Choudhury, Udit and Fischer, Peer and Mark, Andrew G.},
  url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201701328},
  month_numeric = {6}
}