Symmetrical Catalytic Colloids Display Janus‐Like Active Brownian Particle Motion

Abstract Catalytic Janus colloids, with one hemi‐sphere covered by a hydrogen peroxide reduction catalyst such as platinum, represent one of the most experimentally explored examples of self‐motile active colloid systems. This paper comparatively investigates the motile behavior of symmetrical catal...

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Main Authors: Richard J. Archer, Stephen J. Ebbens
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-11-01
Series:Advanced Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202303154
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author Richard J. Archer
Stephen J. Ebbens
author_facet Richard J. Archer
Stephen J. Ebbens
author_sort Richard J. Archer
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Catalytic Janus colloids, with one hemi‐sphere covered by a hydrogen peroxide reduction catalyst such as platinum, represent one of the most experimentally explored examples of self‐motile active colloid systems. This paper comparatively investigates the motile behavior of symmetrical catalytic colloids produced by a solution‐based metal salt reduction process. Despite the significant differences in the distribution of catalytic activity, this study finds that the motion produced by symmetrical colloids is equivalent to that previously reported for Janus colloids. It also shows that introducing a Janus structure to the symmetrical colloids via masking does not significantly modify their motion. These findings could indicate that very subtle variations in surface reactivity can be sufficient to produce Janus‐like active Brownian particle‐type motion, or that a symmetry‐breaking phenomena is present. The study will consequently motivate fresh theoretical attention and also demonstrate a straightforward route to access large quantities of motile active colloids, which are expected to show subtly different phenomenology compared to those with Janus structures.
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spelling doaj.art-9cf0b69b6a3a48b4b3f3a7e0c42fb35d2023-11-24T08:40:29ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442023-11-011033n/an/a10.1002/advs.202303154Symmetrical Catalytic Colloids Display Janus‐Like Active Brownian Particle MotionRichard J. Archer0Stephen J. Ebbens1Molecular Robotics Laboratory Department of Robotics Graduate School of Engineering Tohoku University Sendai 980‐8579 JapanDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Sheffield Mappin Street Sheffield S1 3JD UKAbstract Catalytic Janus colloids, with one hemi‐sphere covered by a hydrogen peroxide reduction catalyst such as platinum, represent one of the most experimentally explored examples of self‐motile active colloid systems. This paper comparatively investigates the motile behavior of symmetrical catalytic colloids produced by a solution‐based metal salt reduction process. Despite the significant differences in the distribution of catalytic activity, this study finds that the motion produced by symmetrical colloids is equivalent to that previously reported for Janus colloids. It also shows that introducing a Janus structure to the symmetrical colloids via masking does not significantly modify their motion. These findings could indicate that very subtle variations in surface reactivity can be sufficient to produce Janus‐like active Brownian particle‐type motion, or that a symmetry‐breaking phenomena is present. The study will consequently motivate fresh theoretical attention and also demonstrate a straightforward route to access large quantities of motile active colloids, which are expected to show subtly different phenomenology compared to those with Janus structures.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202303154active matteractive colloidscatalysiscolloidsJanus particles
spellingShingle Richard J. Archer
Stephen J. Ebbens
Symmetrical Catalytic Colloids Display Janus‐Like Active Brownian Particle Motion
Advanced Science
active matter
active colloids
catalysis
colloids
Janus particles
title Symmetrical Catalytic Colloids Display Janus‐Like Active Brownian Particle Motion
title_full Symmetrical Catalytic Colloids Display Janus‐Like Active Brownian Particle Motion
title_fullStr Symmetrical Catalytic Colloids Display Janus‐Like Active Brownian Particle Motion
title_full_unstemmed Symmetrical Catalytic Colloids Display Janus‐Like Active Brownian Particle Motion
title_short Symmetrical Catalytic Colloids Display Janus‐Like Active Brownian Particle Motion
title_sort symmetrical catalytic colloids display janus like active brownian particle motion
topic active matter
active colloids
catalysis
colloids
Janus particles
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202303154
work_keys_str_mv AT richardjarcher symmetricalcatalyticcolloidsdisplayjanuslikeactivebrownianparticlemotion
AT stephenjebbens symmetricalcatalyticcolloidsdisplayjanuslikeactivebrownianparticlemotion