Ágota Tóth - University of Szeged, Hungary
Biography
Title: Synchronization of hydrogel beads
Abstract: A drop of chitosan solution into a pool of sodium hydroxide solution results in passive hydrogel beads. When surface active ethanol is added to the chitosan solution the evolving active beads exhibit self-propulsion on the air-liquid interface. When several active beads are formed along with a single passive bead, the passive bead serves as a coordinator and the active beads assemble around it in a rotatory way. When three or more fuelled beads are placed close to each other, synchronized oscillatory patterns develop due to the inherent Marangoni convection and the arising capillary attraction.
