Abstract
An asymmetric microgear will spontaneously and unidirectionally rotate if it is heated in a cool surrounding solvent. The resulting temperature gradient along the edges of the gear teeth translates in a directed thermophoretic force, which will exert a net torque on the gear. By means of computer simulations, the validity of this scenario is proved. The rotational direction and speed are dependent on gear–solvent interactions, and can be analytically related to system parameters like the thermal diffusion factor, the solvent viscosity, or the temperature difference. This microgear provides a simple way to extract net work from non-isothermal solutions, and can become a valuable tool in microfluids.
Highlights
Molecular motors usually refer to biological systems that operate in an environment where thermal uctuations are signi cant, and that have an internal mechanism to convert energy into directed motion or mechanical work
We show that an asymmetric microgear with homogeneous surface properties rotates when heated in a cool surrounding solvent
Our results provide a novel route to design phoretic micromotors with homogeneous surfaces, which can be fueled by local heating
Summary
Molecular motors usually refer to biological systems that operate in an environment where thermal uctuations are signi cant, and that have an internal mechanism to convert energy into directed motion or mechanical work. Examples are motor proteins moving along laments[1] or bacteria swimming in low Reynolds number environments.[2] Such biological active matter has been used to design nanomachines, as is the case of microgears pushed by a bacterial bath.[3,4] Inspired by nature, purely synthetic micromotors display self-propelled motion without biological components. These motors are receiving a rapidly increasing attention as a very promising avenue to realize purposeful functions on the micro and nanoscales. Our results provide a novel route to design phoretic micromotors with homogeneous surfaces, which can be fueled by local heating
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