Active micromachines: Microfluidics powered by mesoscale turbulence

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel microfluidic system that harnesses mesoscale turbulence in active matter to generate work, using a lattice of rotors that self-organize into a spin-state driven by chaotic flow structures.

Contribution

It presents a new approach to designing micromachines powered by active turbulence, exploiting spontaneous symmetry breaking in mesoscale chaotic flows.

Findings

Lattice of rotors self-organizes into a spin-state with alternating rotations.

Active turbulence can be harnessed to produce continuous mechanical work.

The virtual prototype demonstrates potential for active matter-based micromachines.

Abstract

Dense active matter, from bacterial suspensions and microtubule bundles driven by motor proteins to cellular monolayers and synthetic Janus particles, is characterised by mesoscale turbulence, the emergence of chaotic flow structures. By immersing an ordered array of symmetric rotors in an active fluid, we introduce a microfluidic system that exploits spontaneous symmetry breaking in mesoscale turbulence to generate work. The lattice of rotors self-organises into a spin-state where neighbouring discs continuously rotate in permanent alternating directions due to combined hydrodynamic and elastic effects. Our virtual prototype demonstrates a new research direction for the design of micromachines powered by the nematohydrodynamic properties of active turbulence.