Dynamics of diffusiophoretic vesicle under external shear flow

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of an active deformable particle in external shear flow. The active deformable particle under consideration is a diffusiophoretic vesicle that exhibits motility due to the asymmetric chemical reaction on its surface. The vesicle was constructed using the triangulated surface model, where a combination of chemically active and inactive vertices results in its propulsion. In most practical situations, the dynamics of active particles are affected by their environment and the external flow field is one such example. In this work, we observe the transition of vesicle dynamics from simple directed motion to a circular motion on application of shear flow, leading to a cycloidal trajectory. A detailed study about the dynamics of the active vesicle has been carried out here emphasizing the type of motion, shape, and tank-treading of the vesicle in shear. An elaborate comparison of active and passive vesicles has also been made.