Lock-Key Microfluidics: Simulating Nematic Colloid Advection along Wavy-Walled Channels

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Wamsler, Karolina, Head, Louise C., Shendruk, Tyler N.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Wamsler, Karolina
Head, Louise C.
Shendruk, Tyler N.
author_facet Wamsler, Karolina
Head, Louise C.
Shendruk, Tyler N.
contents Liquid crystalline media mediate interactions between suspended particles and confining geometries, which not only has potential to guide patterning and bottom-up colloidal assembly, but can also control colloidal migration in microfluidic devices. However, simulating such dynamics is challenging because nemato-elasticity, diffusivity and hydrodynamic interactions must all be accounted for within complex boundaries. We model the advection of colloids dispersed in flowing and fluctuating nematic fluids confined within 2D wavy channels. A lock-key mechanism between colloids and troughs is found to be stronger for planar anchoring compared to homeotropic anchoring due to the relative location of the colloid-associated defects. Sufficiently large amplitudes result in stick-slip trajectories and even permanent locking of colloids in place. These results demonstrate that wavy walls not only have potential to direct colloids to specific docking sites but also to control site-specific resting duration and intermittent elution.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2404_07367
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Lock-Key Microfluidics: Simulating Nematic Colloid Advection along Wavy-Walled Channels
Wamsler, Karolina
Head, Louise C.
Shendruk, Tyler N.
Soft Condensed Matter
Liquid crystalline media mediate interactions between suspended particles and confining geometries, which not only has potential to guide patterning and bottom-up colloidal assembly, but can also control colloidal migration in microfluidic devices. However, simulating such dynamics is challenging because nemato-elasticity, diffusivity and hydrodynamic interactions must all be accounted for within complex boundaries. We model the advection of colloids dispersed in flowing and fluctuating nematic fluids confined within 2D wavy channels. A lock-key mechanism between colloids and troughs is found to be stronger for planar anchoring compared to homeotropic anchoring due to the relative location of the colloid-associated defects. Sufficiently large amplitudes result in stick-slip trajectories and even permanent locking of colloids in place. These results demonstrate that wavy walls not only have potential to direct colloids to specific docking sites but also to control site-specific resting duration and intermittent elution.
title Lock-Key Microfluidics: Simulating Nematic Colloid Advection along Wavy-Walled Channels
topic Soft Condensed Matter
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.07367