Tuning Steady Shear Rheology through Active Dopants

TL;DR

This study numerically explores how small amounts of active dopants can significantly alter the steady shear rheology of active-passive particle mixtures, providing a method to tune material properties.

Contribution

It introduces the active energy parameter as a key factor controlling rheology and glass transition in active-passive mixtures, offering a new approach for material design.

Findings

Small active dopants induce fluidization similar to fully active systems.

Active energy controls rheology and glass transition.

Tuning dopant fraction and propulsion speed adjusts material properties.

Abstract

We numerically investigate the steady shear rheology of mixtures of active and passive Brownian particles, with varying fractions of active components. We find that even a small fraction of active dopants triggers fluidization with comparable efficiency to fully active systems. A combined parameter, active energy, given by dopant fraction multiplied by propulsion speed squared controls the steady shear rheology and glass transition of the active-passive mixtures. These results together provide a quantitative strategy for fine-tuning the mechanical properties of a soft material with small amounts of active dopants.