Surfactants and rotelles in active chiral fluids
Scholz C, Ldov A, Pöschel T, Engel M, Loewen H (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2021
Journal
Book Volume: 7
Journal Issue: 16
Abstract
Surfactant molecules migrate to interfaces, reduce interfacial tension, and form micelles. All of these behaviors occur at or near equilibrium. Here, we describe active analogs of surfactants that operate far from equilibrium in active chiral fluids. Unlike molecular surfactants, the amphiphilic character of surfactants in active chiral fluids is a consequence of their activity. Our fluid of choice is a mixture of spinners that demixes into left-handed and right-handed chiral fluid domains. We realize spinners in experiment with three-dimensionally printed vibrots. Vibrot surfactants are chains of vibrots containing both types of handedness. Experiments demonstrate the affinity of double-stranded chains to interfaces, where they glide along and act as mixing agents. Simulations access larger systems in which single-stranded chains form spinning vesicles, termed rotelles. Rotelles are the chiral analogs of micelles. Rotelle formation is a ratchet mechanism catalyzed by the vorticity of the chiral fluid and only exist far from equilibrium.
Authors with CRIS profile
Thorsten Pöschel
Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS)
Michael Engel
Professur für Modellierung von Selbstorganisationsprozessen
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Scholz, C., Ldov, A., Pöschel, T., Engel, M., & Loewen, H. (2021). Surfactants and rotelles in active chiral fluids. Science Advances, 7(16). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abf8998
MLA:
Scholz, Christian, et al. "Surfactants and rotelles in active chiral fluids." Science Advances 7.16 (2021).
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