Can Active Colloids Have Collective Behavior?

Nanobots, propelled by converting energy sources into kinetic energy, surpass Brownian motion but face challenges due to gaps in fundamental understanding and a lack of design predictability, resulting in low-energy and less controllable nanobots. Our hypothesis suggests that interparticle forces play a crucial role in enabling collective motion in a nanobot ensemble. The primary research goal is to experimentally manipulate these forces through dynamic control over polymer brushes, employing a mathematical model to explain swarming phenomena and identify predictive design criteria for nanobots by combining experimental and theoretical data. The synergy project aims to generate novel insights into how colloidal systems can surpass Brownian motion and achieve coordinated locomotion.