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SUMMARY:Reconfigurable assemblies of active\, auto-chemotactic gels - Bala
 zs\, A (University of Pittsburgh)
DTSTART:20130627T134500Z
DTEND:20130627T143000Z
UID:TALK45946@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mustapha Amrani
DESCRIPTION:Using computational modeling\, we show that self-oscillating B
 elousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) gels can both emit and sense a chemical signal an
 d thus\, drive neighboring gel pieces to spontaneously self-aggregate\, so
  that the system exhibits auto-chemotaxis. To date\, this is the closest s
 ystem to the ultimate self-recombining material\, which can be divided int
 o separated parts and the parts move autonomously to assemble into a struc
 ture resembling the original\, uncut sample. We also show that the gels co
 ordinated motion can be controlled by light\, allowing us to achieve selec
 tive 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\, w
 hich autonomously communicate with neighboring units and thereby actively 
 participate in cons tructing the final structure. In essence\, the BZ gels
  resemble pieces of a construction toy that can be reused to build multipl
 e structures and thus\, provide a new route for creating dynamically recon
 figurable materials.\n
LOCATION:Centre for Mathematical Sciences\, Meeting Room 2
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