https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01365-4
Regular Article
Shape-driven optofluidic rotational actuation
1
Dip. SIMAU, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
2
Department of Crystals, Institute of Physics, National Academy of Science, Pr. Nauky 46, 03039, Kiev, Ukraine
3
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 01601, Kiev, Ukraine
4
Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti, ISASI-CNR, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
5
CNR, Institute of Heritage Science, Via Madonna del Piano, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
6
URT-CNR, UNICAM, Via Sant’ Agostino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
a
d.e.lucchetta@staff.univpm.it
Received:
2
December
2020
Accepted:
27
March
2021
Published online:
25
April
2021
In the present work, we report light-induced rotation of millimeter-sized objects driven by their non-symmetric shape. The light-induced torque is originated by the thermal gradient on different sides of the teeth of star-shaped objects floating on liquid surfaces that leads to unbalanced surface tension due to the Marangoni effect. The dependence of the angular rotation on the number of teeth is demonstrated. The angular velocity is linearly dependent on the light intensity and follows a simple time behavior typical of objects moving under fluid friction.
© The Author(s) 2021
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