title: Nematic colloidal swarms assembled and transported on photosensitive surfaces.
abstract: We demonstrate a novel method to assemble and transport swarms of colloidal particles by combining liquid crystal enabled electrophoresis and photo-sensitive surface patterning. Colloidal particles are propelled in a nematic liquid crystal via application of an alternating current electric field. Swarms of particles are assembled into a rotating mill cluster, or moved as a whole along predefined paths photo-imprinted on chemically functionalized substrates. This technique represents an alternative approach to fluid based lab-on-a-chip technologies guiding the motion of large ensembles of micrometer scale solid or liquid inclusions.
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hernàndez-Navarro
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tierno
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ignés-Mullol
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sagués
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D044085:Microfluidics
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids