Microscopic origin of tunable assembly forces in chiral active environments

Journal Article · 10 May 2024 · Soft Matter

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d4sm00247d · OSTI ID:2474796

Batton, Clay H.  ^[1]; Rotskoff, Grant M.  ^[2]

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1. Stanford University, CA (United States); Stanford University
2. Stanford University, CA (United States)

Across a variety of spatial scales, from nanoscale biological systems to micron-scale colloidal systems, equilibrium self-assembly is entirely dictated by—and therefore limited by—the thermodynamic properties of the constituent materials. In contrast, nonequilibrium materials, such as self-propelled active matter, expand the possibilities for driving the assemblies that are inaccessible in equilibrium conditions. Recently, a number of works have suggested that active matter drives or accelerates self-organization, but the emergent interactions that arise between solutes immersed in actively driven environments are complex and poorly understood. Here, we analyze and resolve two crucial questions concerning actively driven self-assembly: (i) how, mechanistically, do active environments drive self-assembly of passive solutes? (ii) Under which conditions is this assembly robust? We employ the framework of odd hydrodynamics to theoretically explain numerical and experimental observations that chiral active matter, i.e., particles driven with a directional torque, produces robust and long-ranged assembly forces. Overall, these developments constitute an important step towards a comprehensive theoretical framework for controlling self-assembly in nonequilibrium environments.

• Research Organization: Stanford University, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0022917; AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 2474796
• Journal Information: Soft Matter, Journal Name: Soft Matter Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 20; ISSN 1744-683X
• Publisher: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English