Simulations of thermophoretic nanoswimmers.
We consider a nanodimer in solution with asymmetric thermal properties that shows self-propelled motion. One monomer of the nanodimer can be heated to a fixed temperature producing a radially symmetric temperature gradient. The thermophoretic properties of the second monomer produce then a propulsion against or toward the heated particle, such that the nanodimer becomes a puller or pusher nanoswimmer. We combine our simulation measurements with a theoretical analysis that satisfactorily characterizes the self-propelled velocity with the temperature gradient, and the thermophoretic properties of the bead.
Theoretical Soft-Matter and Biophysics, Institute of Complex Systems, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany. m.yang@fz-juelich.de
Mingcheng
M
Yang
Marisol
M
Ripoll
D019281:Dimerization; D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009038:Motion; D049329:Nanostructures; D013696:Temperature