Self-assembling structure and function using equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics

Date:
26
Tuesday
April
2022
Lecture / Seminar
Time: 11:00-12:00
Location: Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture Hall
Lecturer: Dr, Matan Ya Ben Zion
Organizer: Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science
Details: School of Physics, TAU
Abstract: Self-assembly and self-organization are two big challenges in the natural scienc ... Read more Self-assembly and self-organization are two big challenges in the natural sciences. What are the rules governing the emergence of greater structures from unassuming elements? Does statistical-mechanics restrict their complexity? Biochemical processes can shape highly specific structures and function on the macro-scale using only molecular information. Although stereochemistry has been a central focus of molecular sciences since Pasteur, its synthetic province has been restricted to the nanometric scale. In my talk, I will describe how to propagate molecular information to self-assemble free-form architectures on the micron-scale and beyond. These architectures are a thousand times greater than their constituent molecules yet have a preprogrammed geometry and chirality. I will then show how to animate such synthetic microstructures into bacteria-like micro-swimmers. Previous artificial microswimmers relied on an external chemical fuel to drive their propulsion which restricted their operational concentration as they competed locally over fuel. I will demonstrate how to use material science and physical chemistry to self-assemble fuel-free micro-swimmers that are driven solely by light. The fuel independence allows the swimmers to stay active even at high densities, where they form turbulent flow structures (previously seen in living fluids), and cooperate to perform a greater task.
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