Novel Approach to Propel Micro-Motors using a combination of Planar Magnetic Field with Orthogonal Electric Field

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PROJECT NUMBER: 22

AUTHOR: Nomin Uyanga, Chemical and Biological Engineering | MENTOR: Ning Wu, Chemical and Biological Engineering

ABSTRACT

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Recent strides in determining an effective method of propulsion has led to understanding locomotion of micro-nano robots using an external method such as electric or magnetic fields. However, the advantageous combination of a magnetic field to control direction and an electric field to control speed is explored here. In the application of planar magnetic field with orthogonal electric field to propel linear chains of colloids, the linear chains were assembled in xy plane and titled in yz plane to break symmetry. An orthogonal electric field coupled with either oscillating or rotating planar magnetic fields induced propulsion at a higher velocity than with just one external method.

Colloidal motors subjected to a rotating magnetic field translated into a speed increase of 180% and the application of electric field on tilted chains had higher speed in locomotion as well. By tuning the orientation of colloidal chains with an applied electric field promises faster propulsion speeds and the ability to brake and steer. This exhibits the rich variety of dynamics colloidal particles can have depending on their assembly shape and propulsion mode orientation. The benefit of electrokinetics and magnetodynamics in combination creates more direction and speed control than solely the application of one external field.

VISUAL PRESENTATION

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=sS9HDgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=info:JdoajYYX48QJ:scholar.google.com&ots=_rqHOwEHIh&sig=lHelGwxhFnBusoeFc_wgyFjsIzw#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128040690000058

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

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Nomin Uyanga is a senior majoring in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and minoring in Biomedical Engineering. She has been researching under Dr. Ning Wu’s Active Colloids Lab in the Chemical and Biological Engineering department since August 2019. With graduate student, Ashraf Haque, she has been developing and writing a manuscript on a new approach in propelling micro motors using both electric and magnetic external forces. This new method can potentially change the way micro motors are initially designed and increase their functions in areas such as biosensing and biomedicine.

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