APS Logo

Interaction of active droplets with director gradients in nematic liquid crystal

ORAL

Abstract

Nematic liquid crystal environment enables directional propulsion of spherical droplets representing aqueous dispersion of bacterial microswimmers1 . Here we explore how the dynamics of active droplets can be controlled by patterning the nematic environment with singular and nonsingular director field. We use the plasmonic metamasks technique to pattern the director in a one-dimensionally periodic sequence of splay and bend deformations and in the form of defects, such as semi-integer singular disclinations and integer nonsingular disclinations. We demonstrate that interactions of the active droplet with the director gradients of the environment can be used to control propagation direction, speed, and locations of traps that stop propulsion.

1 Rajabi, M., Baza, H., Turiv, T. & Lavrentovich, O. D. Directional self-locomotion of active droplets enabled by nematic environment. Nat. Phys., doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-01055-5 (2020).

–

Presenters

  • Hend M. Baza

    Department of Physics and Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University

Authors

  • Hend M. Baza

    Department of Physics and Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University

  • Yuhan Wang

    Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University

  • O Lavrentovich

    Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA, Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA, Department of Physics, Kent State University, Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Department of Physics, Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Department of Physics and Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University