Authors:
Pratyush Dayal, Olga Kuksenok, and Anna C. Balazs
Summary:
Using computational modeling, we show that self-oscillating Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) gels can both emit and sense a chemical signal and thus drive neighboring gel pieces to spontaneously self-aggregate, so that the system exhibits autochemotaxis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the closest system to the ultimate self-recombining material, which can be divided into separated parts and the parts move autonomously to assemble into a structure resembling the original, uncut sample. We also show that the gels’ coordinated motion can be controlled by light, allowing us to achieve selective self-aggregation and control over the shape of the gel aggregates. By exposing the BZ gels to specific patterns of light and dark, we design a BZ gel “train” that leads the movement of its “cargo.” Our findings pave the way for creating reconfigurable materials from self-propelled elements, which autonomously communicate with neighboring units and thereby actively participate in constructing the final structure.
Source:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A.; Vol. 110, No. 2, 431-436 (01/08/13)