Reconfigurable multi-component micromachines driven by optoelectronic tweezers
Shuailong Zhang, Mohamed Y. El‐Sayed, Ran Peng, Yujie Chen, Yanfeng Zhang, Jiaxi Peng, Weizhen Li, M. Dean Chamberlain, A. N. Nikitina, Siyuan Yu, Xinyu Liu, Steven L. Neale, Aaron R. Wheeler
Abstract
There is great interest in the development of micromotors which can convert energy to motion in sub-millimeter dimensions. Micromachines take the micromotor concept a step further, comprising complex systems in which multiple components work in concert to effectively realize complex mechanical tasks. Here we introduce light-driven micromotors and micromachines that rely on optoelectronic tweezers (OET). Using a circular micro-gear as a unit component, we demonstrate a range of new functionalities, including a touchless micro-feed-roller that allows the programming of precise three-dimensional particle trajectories, multi-component micro-gear trains that serve as torque- or velocity-amplifiers, and micro-rack-and-pinion systems that serve as microfluidic valves. These sophisticated systems suggest great potential for complex micromachines in the future, for application in microrobotics, micromanipulation, microfluidics, and beyond.