Submersed micropatterned structures control active nematic flow, topology, and concentration.

ABSTRACT: Coupling between flows and material properties imbues rheological matter with its wide-ranging applicability, hence the excitement for harnessing the rheology of active fluids for which internal structure and continuous energy injection lead to spontaneous flows and complex, out-of-equilibrium dynamics. We propose and demonstrate a convenient, highly tunable method for controlling flow, topology, and composition within active films. Our approach establishes rheological coupling via the indirect presence of fully submersed micropatterned structures within a thin, underlying oil layer. Simulations reveal that micropatterned structures produce effective virtual boundaries within the superjacent active nematic film due to differences in viscous dissipation as a function of depth. This accessib

SUBMITTER: Thijssen K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8463884 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature