Maze Solving by Chemotactic Droplets

Droplets emitting surface-active chemicals exhibit chemotaxis toward low-pH regions. Such droplets are self-propelled and navigate through a complex maze to seek a source of acid placed at one of the maze’s exits. In doing so, the droplets find the shortest path through the maze. Chemotaxis and maze...

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Published inJournal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 132; no. 4; pp. 1198 - 1199
Main Authors Lagzi, István, Soh, Siowling, Wesson, Paul J, Browne, Kevin P, Grzybowski, Bartosz A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Chemical Society 03.02.2010
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Subjects
bio-inspired
catalysis (homogeneous)
charge transport
INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
materials and chemistry by design
mesostructured materials
solar (photovoltaic)
synthesis (novel materials)
synthesis (self-assembly)
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Summary:Droplets emitting surface-active chemicals exhibit chemotaxis toward low-pH regions. Such droplets are self-propelled and navigate through a complex maze to seek a source of acid placed at one of the maze’s exits. In doing so, the droplets find the shortest path through the maze. Chemotaxis and maze solving are due to an interplay between acid/base chemistry and surface tension effects.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
SC0000989
ISSN:0002-7863
1520-5126
DOI:10.1021/ja9076793