Dynamic and programmable self-assembly of micro-rafts at the air-water interface

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602522
• Publication Date: 2017-05-25T00:50:19Z
• Authors: Wendong Wang; Joshua Giltinan; Svetlana Zakharch...; Metin Sitti
• Keywords: Biomimetics; Interface (matter)

Dynamic self-assembled material systems constantly consume energy to maintain their spatiotemporal structures and functions. Programmable self-assembly translates information from individual parts the collective whole. Combining dynamic programmable in a single platform opens up possibilities investigate both types of simultaneously explore synergy. This task is challenging because difficulty finding suitable interactions that are dissipative programmable. We present self-assembling system consisting spinning at air-water interface circular magnetic micro-rafts radius 50 μm with cosinusoidal edge-height profiles. The profiles not only create net capillary repulsion sustained by continuous torque input but also enable directional assembly micro-rafts. uncover layered arrangement patterns formed offer mechanistic insights through physical model geometric analysis. Furthermore, we demonstrate show 4-fold rotational symmetry encoded into 90° bending angles square-based tiling assembled anticipate our will serve as for studying nonequilibrium dynamics statistical mechanics future.