Dynamics of Self-Propelled Oil Droplets Induced by the Generation of Surfactants

摘要

Self-propelled motion of micrometer-sized oil droplets in surfactant solution has drawn much attention as the dynamic behavior in a far-from-equilibrium system. This driving force is thought to be the Marangoni flow based on heterogeneity in the interfacial tension at the droplet surface. Here, to clarify the requirement for the self-propelled motion of oil droplets, such as the amount of surfactants and strength of flow fields around oil droplets, we have constructed the system where oil droplets start the motion induced by the production of 1,2,3-triazole-containing surfactants (TA) through the Huisgen cycloaddition reaction of a hydrophobic alkyne and a hydrophilic azide.