Controlling the Dynamic Behavior of Microposts in Solution via Diffusion-Convection.

ABSTRACT: Solutal buoyancy forces in solution arise from density gradients, which occur when the reactants and products of a chemical reaction occupy different volumes in the fluid. These forces drive fluids to spontaneously perform self-directed mechanical work such as shaping and organizing flexible objects in fluid-filled microchambers. Here, we use theory and simulation to show that chemical reactions are not necessary to generate useful solutal buoyancy forces; it is sufficient to just add reactants to aqueous solutions that have a different mass-to-volume ratio than water to drive such spontaneous mechanical action. To demonstrate this behavior, we model arrays of tethered, nonreactive posts in a fluid-filled chamber. Relatively dense chemicals released from the chamber's side walls diffuse in

SUBMITTER: Moradi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11924236 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature