The role of particle-electrode wall interactions in mobility of active Janus particles driven by electric fields

Hypothesis: The interaction of active particles with walls can explain discrepancies between experiments and theory derived for particles in the bulk. For an electric field driven metallodielectric Janus particle QP) adjacent to an electrode, interaction between the asymmetric particle and the partially screened electrode yields a net electrostatic force - termed self-dielectrophoresis (sDEP) - that competes with induced-charge electrophoresis (ICEP) to reverse particle direction. Experiments: The potential contribution of hydrodynamic flow to the reversal is evaluated by visualizing flow around a translating particle via micro-particle image velocimetry and chemically suppressing ICEP with poly(L-lysine)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-PEG). Mobility of Polystyrene-Gold JPs is measured in KCl electrolytes of varying concentration and with a capacitive SiO2 coating at the metallic JP surface or electrode. Results are compared with theory and numerical simulations accounting for electrode screening. Findings: PLL-PEG predominantly suppresses low-frequency mobility where propulsive electro-hydrodynamic jetting is observed; supporting the hypothesis of an electrostatic driving force at high frequencies. Simulations and theory show the magnitude, direction and frequency dispersion of JP mobility are obtained by superposition of ICEP and sDEP using the JP height and capacitance as fitting parameters. Wall proximity enhances ICEP and sDEP and manifests a secondary ICEP charge relaxation time dominating in the contact limit. (C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study investigates the interaction between active particles and walls to explain discrepancies between experiments and theory. The findings show that the motion direction and frequency dispersion of particles can be controlled by the interaction between ICEP and sDEP. Proximity to walls enhances this interaction and has a significant impact on particle mobility.