Osmotic Propulsion: The Osmotic Motor

渗透推进：渗透马达

• 批准号: 0754967
• 负责人: John Brady
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: California Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-04-15 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0754967&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Osmotic; Propulsion; Motor

CBET-0754967BradyIntellectual Merit: The design of nanoengines that can convert stored chemical energyinto motion is a key transformative challenge of nanotechnology, especially for nano-engines that can operate autonomously. Recent experiments have demonstrated that it is possible to power the motion of nanoscale and microscale objects by using surface catalytic reactions so-called catalytic nanomotors. The precise mechanism responsible for this motion is not known, although a number of ideas have been put forth. This project involves a very simple mechanism is proposed: osmotic propulsion. A surface chemical reaction creates local concentration gradients of the reactive and product species which generate a net osmotic force on the motor. The motor is able to harness the ever present random thermal motion via a chemical reaction to achieve directed autonomous motion. This research demonstrates that such an 'osmotic' motor is possible and addresses such questions as: How fast can the motor move? How large of a force can it generate? How much 'cargo' can it carry? How much fluid can it pump? How can its motion be controlled and directed? What chemistry can be used? What is the efficiency of such an osmotic motor?Broader Impact: Osmotic propulsion provides a very simple and general means to convert chemical energy into mechanical motion and work. Exploiting the random thermal motion in colloidal systems via osmotic propulsion can revolutionize the design and operation of microfluidic and nanodevices, with applications in directed self-assembly of materials, thermal management of micro- and nanoprocessors, and the design and operation of chemical and biological sensors. This research will provide explicit prescriptions for the construction and operation of colloidal particles that can be used as osmotic motors. This fundamental and transformative study must be undertaken if we wish to enable many of the nano-scale technologies envisioned for the future: tiny medical 'nanobots' that can access human illness inside the body, at the cellular level, and repair it. Or devices that can sense their way through micro channels in 'lab on a chip' devices, stirring or separating nano-liters of chemicals. Or even a nano-motor that senses intrusion of a specific molecule, swims toward it, and closes a channel in the process triggering an alarm switch for biological contaminants. Any of these types of devices is possible provided the physics of motion at that scale is correctly understood and utilized. And finally, studies of autonomous motors may help to understand more generally chemomechanical transduction as occurs in biological systems, and also create novel artificial motors that mimic living organisms and which can be harnessed to perform useful tasks.

CBET-0754967 BradyIntlectual功绩：可以转换储存的化学能量运动的纳米发动机的设计是纳米技术的关键变革性挑战，尤其是对于可以自动运行的纳米引擎而言。最近的实验表明，可以使用表面催化反应所谓的催化纳米运动剂来为纳米级和显微镜对象的运动提供动力。尽管已经提出了许多想法，但尚不清楚负责这项运动的确切机制。该项目涉及一种非常简单的机制：渗透推进。表面化学反应会产生反应性和产物物种的局部浓度梯度，从而在电机上产生净渗透力。电动机能够通过化学反应来利用随机的随机热运动，以实现定向自主运动。这项研究表明，这样的“渗透”电动机是可能的，并且解决了以下问题：电动机移动的速度如何？它可以产生多大的力？它可以携带多少“货物”？它可以抽多少液？如何控制和指导其运动？可以使用什么化学反应？这种渗透电动机的效率是什么？更广泛的影响：渗透推进提供了一种非常简单且一般的手段，可以将化学能量转化为机械运动和工作。通过渗透推进来利用胶体系统中的随机热运动可以彻底改变微流体和纳米版的设计和操作，并在定向材料的定向自组装中应用，微处理器和纳米处理器的热管理以及化学和生物传感器的设计和操作。这项研究将为可以用作渗透电机的胶体颗粒的构建和运行提供明确的处方。如果我们希望为未来设想的许多纳米级技术：微小的医学“纳米机器人”可以在体内，细胞水平上使用并修复它，就必须进行这项基本和变革性的研究。 或可以通过“芯片上的实验室”设备中的微通道感知其方式的设备，搅拌或分离化学物质的纳米光线。甚至是一种纳米运动器，可以感觉到特定分子的侵入，向其游泳，并在该过程中关闭通道，从而触发了生物污染物的警报开关。只要正确理解和利用，这些类型的设备都可以使用该规模的运动物理。最后，对自动电机的研究可能有助于理解更一般的化学力力学转导与生物系统中的发生，还可以创建新型的人工电动机，以模仿生物体，并且可以利用这些生物来执行有用的任务。