Colloidal Clusters as models for chiral active micromotors

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple experimental method to create and study active chiral rotors using Janus colloid clusters, revealing tunable motion properties and potential for exploring collective behaviors in synthetic active matter.

Contribution

It presents a novel fabrication approach for uniform Janus colloid clusters acting as controllable chiral micromotors with tunable dynamics.

Findings

Clusters exhibit tunable orbit radius and angular velocity.

Uniform azimuthal angle clusters have larger radii.

Kinetic model validated for clusters beyond dimers.

Abstract

Circular swimmers with tunable orbit radius and chirality are gaining attention due to their potential to illustrate novel collective phases in simulations and synthetic and biological active matter. Here, we present a facile experimental strategy for fabricating active rotors using chemically cross-linked clusters of Janus colloids. Janus clusters are propelled by induced charge electrophoresis in an alternating electric field. We demonstrate capillary-assisted assembly as a feasible path toward expanding the fabrication process to get large amounts of uniform circular clusters. Systematic studies of the Janus clusters reveal circular motion with tunable angular velocity, orbit radius, and chirality and a relation between the radius of gyration of the cluster and their rotational dynamics. Importantly, clusters with uniform azimuthal angles behave distinctly exhibiting larger orbit radii, while those with random angles exhibit higher angular velocities and smaller radii. We also validate the kinetic model for clusters beyond dimers. Collectively, our studies highlight that Janus clusters as promising candidates as controlled circular rotors with tunable properties and, hence in the future, will facilitate studies on the collective behaviors of synthetic chiral rotors.