UChicago Argonne, LLC

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Igor S Aronson

Oleksiy Snezhko

Wai-Kwong Kwok

Philip D Laible

Ralu Divan

Nicholas G Becker

Thomas Proslier

Martyna Michalska

Arnaud Demortiere

Maxim V Belkin

Philippe Noirot

Oleksiy (Alexey) Snezhko

Andrey Sokolov

Maksim Sapozhnikov

A material with nanopillar structures extending from a substrate. The nanopillars are engageable by organisms to cause an interaction, such as cellular destruction.

Tunable nanotextured materials

Self-assembled tunable networks of microscopic polymer fibers ranging from wavy colloidal 'fur' to highly interconnected networks are created from polymer systems and an applied electric field. The networks emerge via dynamic self-assembly in an alternating (ac) electric field from a non-aqueous suspension of 'sticky' polymeric colloidal particles with a controlled degree of polymerization. The resulting architectures are tuned by the frequency and amplitude of the electric field and surface properties of the particles.

Self-assembled tunable networks of sticky colloidal particles

A magnetic colloidal system confined at the interface between two immiscible liquids and energized by an alternating magnetic field dynamically self-assembles into localized asters and arrays of asters. The colloidal system exhibits locomotion and shape change. By controlling a small external magnetic field applied parallel to the interface, structures can capture, transport, and position target particles.

Interface colloidal robotic manipulator

The present invention provides a method of driving liquid flow at or near a free surface using self-assembled structures composed of magnetic particles subjected to an external AC magnetic field. A plurality of magnetic particles are supported at or near a free surface of liquid by surface tension or buoyancy force. An AC magnetic field traverses the free surface and dipole-dipole interaction between particles produces in self-assembled snake structures which oscillate at the frequency of the traverse AC magnetic field. The snake structures independently move across the free surface and may merge with other snake structures or break up and coalesce into additional snake structures experiencing independent movement across the liquid surface. During this process, the snake structures produce asymmetric flow vortices across substantially the entirety of the free surface, effectuating liquid flow across the free surface.

Method of driving liquid flow at or near the free surface using magnetic microparticles

Self-assembly of magnetic microparticles in AC magnetic fields. Excitation of the system by an AC magnetic field provides a variety of patterns that can be controlled by adjusting the frequency and the amplitude of the field. At low particle densities the low-frequency magnetic excitation favors cluster phase formation, while high frequency excitation favors chains and netlike structures. For denser configurations, an abrupt transition to the network phase was obtained.

Systems and methods for creation of conducting networks of magnetic particles through dynamic self-assembly process

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Darien, IL, United States of America

Igor S Aronson