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Programmable Dynamic Shapes with a Swarm of Light‐Powered Colloidal Motors
Author(s) -
Chen Meiling,
Lin Zhihua,
Xuan Mingjun,
Lin Xiankun,
Yang Mingcheng,
Dai Luru,
He Qiang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202105746
Subject(s) - phototaxis , colloid , control reconfiguration , swarm behaviour , molecular motor , nanotechnology , biological system , materials science , computer science , chemical engineering , engineering , artificial intelligence , biology , botany , embedded system
We report robust control over the dynamic assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration of light‐activated molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) colloidal motor swarms with features not possible in equilibrium systems. A photochemical reaction produces chemical gradients across the MoS 2 colloidal motors to drive them to move. Under illumination of a gradient light, these colloidal motors display a positive phototactic motion. Mesoscale simulations prove that the self‐diffusiophoresis induced by the locally consumed oxygen gradient across MoS 2 colloidal motors dominates the phototactic process. By programming the structured illumination, the collective migration and well‐defined shapes of colloidal motor swarms can be externally regulated. The successful realization of programmable swarm transformation of colloidal motors like the emergent behaviors of living systems in nature provides a direct proof‐of‐concept for active soft materials and systems, with adaptive and interactive functions.