Chemotactic and hydrodynamic effects on collective dynamics of self-diffusiophoretic Janus motors

TL;DR

This study investigates how chemotactic and hydrodynamic interactions influence the collective behavior of self-propelled Janus motors, revealing the formation of dynamic clusters through simulations of microscopic models.

Contribution

It identifies the roles of chemotactic and hydrodynamic effects in cluster formation and explores how bulk reaction rates affect collective dynamics in Janus motor suspensions.

Findings

Dynamic cluster states are observed in simulations.

Chemotactic effects are crucial for cluster formation.

Hydrodynamic interactions also significantly influence collective behavior.

Abstract

Collective motion in nonequilibrium steady state suspensions of self-propelled Janus motors driven by chemical reactions can arise due to interactions coming from direct intermolecular forces, hydrodynamic flow effects, or chemotactic effects mediated by chemical gradients. The relative importance of these interactions depends on the reactive characteristics of the motors, the way in which the system is maintained in a steady state, and properties of the suspension, such as the volume fraction. From simulations of a microscopic hard collision model for the interaction of fluid particles with the Janus motor we show that dynamic cluster states exist and determine the interaction mechanisms that are responsible for their formation. The relative importance of chemotactic and hydrodynamic effects is identified by considering a microscopic model in which chemotactic effects are turned off while the full hydrodynamic interactions are retained. The system is maintained in a steady state by means of a bulk reaction in which product particles are reconverted into fuel particles. The influence of the bulk reaction rate on the collective dynamics is also studied.