title: Maze solving using fatty acid chemistry.
abstract: This study demonstrates that the Marangoni flow in a channel network can solve maze problems such as exploring and visualizing the shortest path and finding all possible solutions in a parallel fashion. The Marangoni flow is generated by the pH gradient in a maze filled with an alkaline solution of a fatty acid by introducing a hydrogel block soaked with an acid at the exit. The pH gradient changes the protonation rate of fatty acid molecules, which translates into the surface tension gradient at the liquid-air interface through the maze. Fluid flow maintained by the surface tension gradient (Marangoni flow) can drag water-soluble dye particles toward low pH (exit) at the liquid-air interface. Dye particles placed at the entrance of the maze dissolve during this motion, thus exhibiting and finding the shortest path and all possible paths in a maze.
authors: Graduate School of Advanced Mathematical Sciences, Meiji University , Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Kohta
authors: K
authors: Suzuno
authors: Daishin
authors: D
authors: Ueyama
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Branicki
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Tóth
authors: Artur
authors: A
authors: Braun
authors: István
authors: I
authors: Lagzi