Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 35: Poster: Micro- and Nanofluidics

CPP 35.21: Poster

Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 17:00–19:00, P2

Gold Capped Microparticles as Self-Propelled Switchable Swimmers — •Andreas Bregulla¹, Markus Selmke¹, Ralf Seidel², Michael Mertig³, Klaus Kroy⁴, and Frank Cichos¹ — ¹Molecular Nanophotonics Group, University Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5,04103 Leipzig — ²DNA Motors Group, BioTeC, University of Tech- nology Dresden, Tatzberg 47-51, 01307 Dresden — ³Physikalische Chemie, Mess- und Sensortechnik, Technische Universität Dres- den,Eisenstuckstr. 5 01069 Dresden — ⁴Soft Condensed Matter Theory Group, University Leipzig, Vor dem Hospitaltore 1, 04103 Leipzig

Nanotechnology requires the independent transport of materials by nanoscale machinery in solution. Following this idea a number of concepts on self-propelled swimmers were realized during recent years. Most of them are based on catalytic reactions requiring fuel in the solution. Due to this such self propelled swimmers are non-switchable, they run until they are out of fuel. Further they cannot be controlled on an individual basis, thus either all swimmers run or none. Here we present a new concept based on self-thermophoretic action. A particle which is capped by a thin metal layer is heated by an laser beam causing a temperature gradient along the particle surface. This temperature gradient leads to a thermophoretic propulsion of the particle. The speed as well as the directed motion itself can be controlled on an individual particle basis and thus allows a whole set of new types of artificial micro- and nanoscale motors.