Colloidal electro-phoresis in the presence of symmetric and asymmetric electro-osmotic flow

We characterize the electro-phoretic motion of charged sphere suspensions in the presence of substantial electro-osmotic flow using a recently introduced small angle super-heterodyne dynamic light scattering instrument (ISASH-LDV). Operation in integral mode gives access to the particle velocity distribution over the complete cell cross-section. Obtained Doppler spectra are evaluated for electro-phoretic mobility, wall electro-osmotic mobility and particle diffusion coefficient. Simultaneous measurements of differing electro-osmotic mobilities leading to asymmetric solvent flow are demonstrated in a custom made electro-kinetic cell fitting standard microscopy slides as exchangeable sidewall…

Seedless assembly of colloidal crystals by inverted micro-fluidic pumping

We propose a simple seedless approach to assemble millimeter sized monolayer single colloidal crystals with desired orientations at predetermined locations on an unstructured charged substrate. This approach utilizes the millimeter-ranged fluid flow on the bottom glass substrate induced by an ion exchange resin (IEX) fixed on top of the closed sample cell. This fluid flow increases with decreasing height of the sample cell and increasing radius R of the IEX. For a single inverted pump, millimeter sized monolayer single crystals of hexagonal close packing can be obtained. For two closely spaced (D ~ 4R) pumps, the formed crystals have a predefined orientation along the line connecting the tw…

Dynamics of Binary Active Clusters Driven by Ion-Exchange Particles

We present a framework to quantitatively predict the linear and rotational directed motion of synthetic modular microswimmers. To this end, we study binary dimers and characterize their approach motion as effective interactions within a minimal model. We apply this framework to the assembly of small aggregates composed of a cationic ion-exchange particle with up to five passive particles or anionic ion-exchange particles at dilute conditions. Particles sediment and move close to a substrate, above which the ion-exchange particles generate flow. This flow mediates long-range attractions leading to a slow collapse during which long-lived clusters of a few particles assemble. The effective int…

Self-Assembly of Colloidal Molecules due to Self-Generated Flow.

The emergence of structure through aggregation is a fascinating topic and of both fundamental and practical interest. Here we demonstrate that self-generated solvent flow can be used to generate long-range attractions on the colloidal scale, with subpiconewton forces extending into the millimeter range. We observe a rich dynamic behavior with the formation and fusion of small clusters resembling molecules. The dynamics of this assembly is governed by an effective conservative energy that for large separations r decays as 1/r. Breaking the flow symmetry, these clusters can be made active.

Assembly and Speed in Ion-Exchange-Based Modular Phoretic Microswimmers.

We report an experimental study on ion-exchange-based modular microswimmers in low-salt water. Cationic ion-exchange particles and passive cargo particles assemble into self-propelling complexes, showing self-propulsion at speeds of several micrometers per second over extended distances and times. We quantify the assembly and speed of the complexes for different combinations of ion-exchange particles and cargo particles, substrate types, salt types and concentrations, and cell geometries. Irrespective of the experimental boundary conditions, we observe a regular development of the assembly shape with increasing number of cargo. Moreover, the swimming speed increases stepwise upon increasing…

To make a glass—avoid the crystal

Colloidal model systems allow for a flexible tuning of particle sizes, particle spacings and mutual interactions at constant temperature. Colloidal suspensions typically crystallize as soon as the interactions get sufficiently strong and long-ranged. Several strategies have been successfully applied to avoid crystallization and instead produce colloidal glasses. Most of these amorphous solids are formed at high particle concentrations. This paper shortly reviews experimental attempts to produce amorphous colloidal solids using strategies based on topological, thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. We complement this overview by introducing a (transient) amorphous solid forming in a thoro…

Controlled assembly of single colloidal crystals using electro-osmotic micro-pumps.

We assemble charged colloidal spheres at deliberately chosen locations on a charged unstructured glass substrate utilizing ion exchange based electro-osmotic micro-pumps. Using microscopy, a simple scaling theory and Brownian Dynamics simulations, we systematically explore the control parameters of crystal assembly and the mechanisms through which they depend on the experimental boundary conditions. We demonstrate that crystal quality depends crucially on the assembly distance of the colloids. This is understood as resulting from the competition between inward transport by the electro-osmotic pump flow and the electro-phoretic outward motion of the colloids. Optimized conditions include sub…

Correction: Seedless assembly of colloidal crystals by inverted micro-fluidic pumping.

Correction for ‘Seedless assembly of colloidal crystals by inverted micro-fluidic pumping’ by Ran Niu et al., Soft Matter, 2018, 14, 3435–3442.

Modular approach to microswimming

The field of active matter in general and microswimming in particular has experienced a rapid and ongoing expansion over the last decade. A particular interesting aspect is provided by artificial autonomous microswimmers constructed from individual active and inactive functional components into self-propelling complexes. Such modular microswimmers may exhibit directed motion not seen for each individual component. In this review, we focus on the establishment and recent developments in the modular approach to microswimming. We introduce the bound and dynamic prototypes, show mechanisms and types of modular swimming and discuss approaches to control the direction and speed of modular microsw…

Active and Passive Motion in Complex pH‐Fields

Unraveling modular microswimmers: From self-assembly to ion-exchange-driven motors

Active systems contain self-propelled particles and can spontaneously self-organize into patterns making them attractive candidates for the self-assembly of smart soft materials. One key limitation of our present understanding of these materials hinges on the complexity of the microscopic mechanisms driving its components forward. Here, by combining experiments, analytical theory, and simulations we explore such a mechanism for a class of active system, modular microswimmers, which self-assemble from colloids and ion-exchange resins on charged substrates. Our results unveil the self-assembly processes and the working mechanism of the ion-exchange driven motors underlying modular microswimme…

Microfluidic Pumping by Micromolar Salt Concentrations

An ion-exchange-resin-based microfluidic pump is introduced that utilizes trace amounts of ions to generate fluid flows. We show experimentally that our pump operates in almost deionized water for periods exceeding 24h and induces fluid flows of um/s over hundreds of um. This flow displays a far-field, power-law decay which is characteristic of two-dimensional (2D) flow when the system is strongly confined and of three-dimensional (3D) flow when it is not. Using theory and numerical calculations we demonstrate that our observations are consistent with electroosmotic pumping driven by umol/L ion concentrations in the sample cell that serve as 'fuel' to the pump. Our study thus reveals that t…