Omnidirectional transport and navigation of Janus particles through a nematic liquid crystal film
Dinesh Kumar Sahu, Swapnil Kole, Sriram Ramaswamy, Surajit Dhara
Abstract
This paper uncovers a self-propelling mechanism by which metal-dielectric Janus colloids in a liquid-crystalline film move by converting the energy of an oscillating electric field. The authors are able to control their trajectories by varying the field amplitude and frequency, further showing that propulsive flows arise around the particles, resembling those generated by swimming microorganisms, through force dipoles with centers displaced towards the metallic hemisphere.
Topics & Concepts
JanusLiquid crystalMaterials scienceElectric fieldAmplitudeOmnidirectional antennaField (mathematics)OpticsCylinderDipoleEnergy (signal processing)Mechanism (biology)Particle (ecology)OptoelectronicsJanus particlesCrystal (programming language)Condensed matter physicsPhysicsRotation (mathematics)Electric energyAcousticsMicro and Nano RoboticsPickering emulsions and particle stabilizationLiquid Crystal Research Advancements