Journal
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
Volume 748, Issue -, Pages 488-520Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/jfm.2014.177
Keywords
colloids; low-Reynolds-number flows; self-propulsion
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation [1002410]
- CAREER [1055284]
- US Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF Global) [RUP1-7078-PE-12]
- National Science Foundation under Cooperative [OISE-9531011]
- Div Of Chem, Bioeng, Env, & Transp Sys
- Directorate For Engineering [1055284] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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The behaviour of a non-spherical osmotic motor an axisymmetric catalytic particle self-propelling in a dilute dispersion of reactant particles is considered. In contrast to a conventional osmotic motor that creates differences in concentration, and hence in osmotic pressure, due to asymmetry in reaction rate along its surface (e.g. a Janus particle with reactive and non-reactive patches), a non-spherical particle is able to move even with uniform chemical activity on its surface. For small departures from a sphere the velocity of self-propulsion is proportional to the square of the non-sphericity or distortion of the particle shape. It is shown that the inclusion of hydrodynamic interactions (HI) may drastically change the self-propulsion. Except for very slow chemical reactions, even the direction of self-propulsion changes with and without HI. Numerical calculations at finite non-sphericity suggest that the maximum velocity of self-propulsion is obtained by a sail-like motor shape, leading to the name 'chemical sailing'. Moreover, no saturation in the speed of propulsion is found; the motor velocity increases as the area of this 'sail' grows and its thickness decreases. The self-propulsion of a non-spherical particle releasing products of a chemical reaction - a constant flux motor - is also considered.
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