2013/06/30 by Rodrigo Soto, Ramin Golestanian · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.112.068301
4 pages, 3 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. Lett
arxiv created 2014/01/15 · arxiv updated 2015/06/16
A heterogeneous and dilute suspension of catalytically active colloids is studied as a non-equilibrium analogue of ionic systems, which has the remarkable feature of action-reaction symmetry breaking. Symmetrically coated colloids are found to join up to form self-assembled molecules that could be inert or have spontaneous activity in the form of net translational velocity and spin depending on their symmetry properties and their constituents. The type of activity can be adjusted by changing the surface chemistry and ambient variables that control the surface reactions and the phoretic drift.