Emergent conformational properties of end-tailored transversely propelling polymers

Abstract

We study the dynamics and conformations of a single active semiflexible polymer whose monomers experience a propulsion force perpendicular to the local tangent, with the end beads being different from...

Passive particle transport using a transversely propelling polymer “sweeper”

“…54 Recently we have developed a polymer model for such sideways-moving elongated objects, having connected beads with activity perpendicular to local tangents. 55 A particularly promising application of the sideways propelling rod is its use in removing unwanted species from the solution. 19 Inspired by the experiment, 19 we explore the possibility of employing a computational model of the transversely propelling polymer for passive cargo transport.…”

“…54 Recently we have developed a polymer model for such sideways-moving elongated objects, having connected beads with activity perpendicular to local tangents. 55 A particularly promising application of the sideways propelling rod is its use in removing unwanted species from the solution. 19…”

“…Since the sweeper collects particles across an interface in experiments, one can assume a two-dimensional motion of sideways moving polymer and particles. We use the polymer model for transversely propelling filaments where the active driving is perpendicular to the local tangent 55 of the polymer, and we assume that the polymer moves on a substrate. The utilisation of the polymer model allows us to tune polymer stiffness easily, which aids us in investigating its impact on particle collection.…”

Chemically active filaments: analysis and extensions of slender phoretic theory

“…Knowledge of these analytic results is crucial for future validation of numerical techniques on slender phoretic swimmers, and may help with the development of pairwise interaction models for models of dilute suspensions of chemically active filaments. Future technologies may exploit the interaction of flexibility and phoretic propulsion to generate elaborate shape change, such as that observed in the transverse propulsion of a flexible chain 31 , as well for the control of artificial microbots 11 . Our examples can be used to gain early insights into how this may occur, such as understanding the slip flow on a Saturn-patterned phoretic cylinder that buckles into a circular arc and spontaneously propels.…”

“…Future technologies may exploit the interaction of flexibility and phoretic propulsion to generate elaborate shape change, such as that observed in the transverse propulsion of a flexible chain, 31 as well for the control of artificial microbots. 11 Our examples can be used to gain early insights into how this may occur, such as understanding the slip flow on a Saturn-patterned phoretic cylinder that buckles into a circular arc and spontaneously propels.…”