Growth control of microscopic bipeds with magnetic loops
a: Magnetic metamorphosis pattern consisting of domains of positive (white) and negative (black or colored) magnetization. Single colloidal particles (red) move to the active line of the pattern and make bipeds in different lengths. b: The two magnetic loops used in the experiments. One moves the microspheres toward the line and the other to moves the outgrown bipeds away.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50023-7
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have developed a new method for controlling the growth of physical micro-runners. The research results have now been published in the renowned journal “Nature Communications”.
What for?
In this work, Jonas Elschner, Farzaneh Farrokhzad, Prof. Dr. Daniel de las Heras and Prof. Dr. Thomas Fischer from the Department of Experimental Physics at the University of Bayreuth have developed a microscopic factory for small runners: a biped factory. There, microspheres are connected to make bipeds by means of magnetic forces and leave the factory as soon as they are fully grown.
This is achieved by means of a magnetic metamorphosis pattern of oppositely magnetized domains that are arranged differently depending on their position. Paramagnetic microspheres are placed on the pattern and an external time-dependent magnetic loop is applied to the system. This is chosen so that the particles move for one or more spatial periods during a temporal period. With a suitably designed loop, different particles can even be transported in different directions so that they meet and combine to form rods of different lengths. As soon as these have grown to the desired length, they leave the factory independently and run across the pattern as bipeds.
In experiments, the group was able to use this system to produce bipeds of six different lengths. Videos of this can be found on the page of the article linked below.
The results are the result of a collaboration between the University of Bayreuth, the University of Kassel and the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Wissenschaftliche Ansprechpartner:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Fischer
Experimental Physics University of Bayreuth
Phone: +49 (0) 921 55 33 42
Mail: Thomas.fischer@uni-bayreuth.de
Originalpublikation:
Elschner, J., Farrokhzad, F., Kúswik, P. et al. Topologically controlled synthesis of active colloidal bipeds. Nat. commun. 15, 5735 (2024); DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50023-7
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