Modulating hydrodynamic flow by modifying the active patch of a colloid

TL;DR

This paper presents a simulation model to study how modifying the active surface patch of colloids influences hydrodynamic flow fields and particle propulsion, enabling control over active colloid interactions.

Contribution

The authors develop a hybrid boundary condition and simulation framework to modulate flow fields by varying the active patch size on colloids, transitioning from pusher to puller flows.

Findings

Flow field type changes from pusher to puller with patch size variation.

The model accurately estimates near- and far-field flows around active colloids.

Surface activity can be tuned to control colloid interactions.

Abstract

We have developed a simulation model to study the hydrodynamic flow fields around Brownian colloidal particles with an active surface patch. Hydrodynamics is introduced by modeling low-Reynolds-number fluid flows around a colloid using multi-particle collision (MPC) dynamics and allowing momentum exchange between the MPC fluid and the colloid. This approach provides good estimates of both near- and far-field flows around the colloid. The size of the active patch is varied to generate different fluid flow fields around the colloid. In this framework, the fluid in the vicinity of the active patch is driven radially away from (or toward) the surface, and an equal and opposite momentum is imparted to the colloid to ensure momentum conservation. The resulting surface-driven flow generates self-propulsion of the particle, thereby converting an otherwise Brownian colloid into an active Brownian particle. Interestingly, as we systematically vary the surface area of the active patch on the colloid, the nature of the generated flow field changes from that of a pusher to a puller. To model such surface activity-driven flows, we developed a hybrid boundary condition that ensures a no-slip condition while incorporating momentum exchange between the flowing fluid and the colloid surface. This scheme integrates the advantages of bounce-back and stochastic boundary conditions while mitigating their respective limitations. Thus, in future studies, the effective hydrodynamic interactions between an active and a passive colloid, or between two active colloids, can be modulated by adjusting the size of the active patch.