title: Active colloidal microdrills.
abstract: We demonstrate a chemically driven, autonomous catalytic microdrill. An asymmetric distribution of catalyst causes the helical swimmer to twist while it undergoes directed propulsion. A driving torque and hydrodynamic coupling between translation and rotation at low Reynolds number leads to drill-like swimming behaviour.
authors: Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstr. 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Gibbs
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Fischer
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D009068:Movement; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry; D012399:Rotation; D019415:Torque
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D010984:Platinum