Active thermophoresis and diffusiophoresis

Thermophoresis and diffusiophoresis respectively refer to the directed drift of suspended particles in solutions with external thermal and chemical gradients, which have been widely used in the manipulation of mesoscopic particles. We here study a phoretic-like motion of a passive colloidal particle immersed in inhomogeneous active baths, where the thermal and chemical gradients are replaced separately by activity and concentration gradients of the active particles. By performing simulations, we show that the passive colloidal particle experiences phoretic-like forces that originate from its interactions with the inhomogeneous active fluid, and thus drifts along the gradient field, leading to an accumulation. The results are similar to the traditional phoretic effects occurring in passive colloidal suspensions, implying that the concepts of thermophoresis and diffusiophoresis could be generalized into active baths.     

自驱动的Janus微球在具有不同障碍物的表面上的运动行为研究

自驱动粒子在靠近边界尤其是平面上障碍物的边界时,会展现出奇特的运动行为.本文通过实验研究了固定于平面上的微米级障碍物的几何效应(包括大小和形状)对双氧水驱动的Janus微球运动行为的影响.实验结果表明,当障碍物尺寸超过临界值后,自驱动的Janus微球会被其"捕获"并沿着其边界定向运动.自驱动粒子在障碍物边界的停留时间及运动速率随着双氧水浓度的增加而增大,且其在圆柱形障碍物边界和球形障碍物边界的停留时间及运动速率均随着障碍物直径的增加而增大.但在相同的双氧水浓度和障碍物直径条件下,自驱动粒子在圆柱边界上的停留时间比其在球形障碍物边界上长;在圆柱边界上的运动速率比在球形障碍物边界上小,揭示了自驱动粒子在障碍物边界上的运动行为与障碍物的几何特性密切相关.本研究有助于进一步理解自驱动粒子在不同大小及形状的障碍物中的运动特征,掌握并利用这些特征在诸如设计特殊几何形状来引导自驱动粒子的运动等领域有很好的应用价值.     

Diffusion of a chemically active colloidal particle in composite channels

Diffusion of colloidal particles in microchannels has been extensively investigated, where the channel wall is either a no-slip or a slip-passive boundary. However, in the context of active fluids, driving boundary walls are ubiquitous and are expected to have a substantial effect on the particle dynamics. By mesoscale simulations, we study the diffusion of a chemically active colloidal particle in composite channels, which are constructed by alternately arranging the no-slip and diffusio-osmotic boundary walls. In this case, the chemical reaction catalyzed by the active colloidal particle creates a local chemical gradient along the channel wall, which drives a diffusio-osmotic flow parallel to the wall. We show that the diffusio-osmotic flow can significantly change the spatial distribution and diffusion dynamics of the colloidal particle in the composite channels. By modulating the surface properties of the channel wall, we can achieve different patterns of colloidal position distribution. The findings thus propose a novel possibility to manipulate colloidal diffusion in microfluidics, and highlight the importance of driving boundary walls in dynamics of colloidal particles in microchannels.     

自扩散泳微观转动马达的介观模拟

转动的微尺度马达是一类重要的微流器件.近年来,因为其重要的应用及理论价值引起了学术界的广泛关注.本文提出了一种新型的自扩散泳驱动的微观转动马达模型.通过介观动力学模拟,验证了该模型的有效性.模拟结果表明,该自扩散泳微观转动马达可以单向地自驱动转动,并且转动速度和马达表面发生的催化化学反应速率(即自产生的浓度梯度场强弱)、以及液体分子与马达之间的相互作用有关.此外,研究了两个转动马达共存时的运动行为,重点考察了马达之间的流体力学相互作用和浓度梯度场效应对马达转动的影响.该自扩散泳微观转动马达为设计实用的微流器件提供了新的思路和参考,也为研究活性胶体系统的集体行为提供了理想模型.     

温度和pH敏感P(NIPA-co-AA)/粘土复合水凝胶的辐射制备与表征

以N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPA)作为温敏性聚合单体,丙烯酸(AA)为pH敏感性单体,有机粘土为改性剂,采用~(60)Co-γ射线为辐射源,辐射合成了P(NIPA-co-AA),粘土复合水凝胶,研究了粘土的加入对水凝胶溶胀率、温度及pH敏感性和压缩性能的影响.结果表明,P(NIPA-co-AA)/粘土复合水凝胶的溶胀性能优于P(NIPA-co-AA)水凝胶,平衡溶胀率(SR)明显提高;且复合水凝胶仍表现出明显的温度和pH敏感性;粘土的加入提高了水凝胶的压缩强度、最大压缩力和压缩屈服力等力学性能,当粘土含量为15%时,P(NIPA-co-AA)/粘土复合水凝胶的压缩强度为P(NIPA-co-AA)共聚水凝胶的2.4倍,最大压缩力为P(NIPA-co-AA)的2.1倍.     

多孔聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺水凝胶的制备与缓释性能

以N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPA)、N,N-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(MBA)和聚乙二醇(PEG)为原料,以60Co-γ射线为放射源制备了快速响应聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPA)多孔水凝胶。用红外光谱分析了水凝胶的结构,并测定了水凝胶的溶胀动力学、退溶胀动力学和平衡溶胀率。结果表明,PEG分子仅在聚合交联过程中充当成孔剂,不参与反应,反应后可被除去;水凝胶具有明显的温度敏感性,成孔剂的添加提高了水凝胶的溶胀性能和LCST。选用阿司匹林为模型药物,对水凝胶的药物缓释性能进行了初步研究。     

A composite micromotor driven by self-thermophoresis and Brownian rectification

Brownian motors and self-phoretic microswimmers are two typical micromotors, for which thermal fluctuations play different roles. Brownian motors utilize thermal noise to acquire unidirectional motion, while thermal fluctuations randomize the self-propulsion of self-phoretic microswimmers. Here we perform mesoscale simulations to study a composite micromotor composed of a self-thermophoretic Janus particle under a time-modulated external ratchet potential. The composite motor exhibits a unidirectional transport, whose direction can be reversed by tuning the modulation frequency of the external potential. The maximum transport capability is close to the superposition of the drift speed of the pure Brownian motor and the self-propelling speed of the pure self-thermophoretic particle. Moreover, the hydrodynamic effect influences the orientation of the Janus particle in the ratched potential, hence also the performance of the composite motor. Our work thus provides an enlightening attempt to actively exploit inevitable thermal fluctuations in the implementation of the self-phoretic microswimmers.