Cooperative Chemotaxis of Magnesium Microswimmers for Corrosion Spotting. Issue 13 (25th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pavel, Ileana‐Alexandra; Salinas, Gerardo; Mierzwa, Maciej; Arnaboldi, Serena; Garrigue, Patrick; Kuhn, Alexander
• Is Part Of: Chemphyschem. Volume 22:Issue 13(2021)
• Page Start: 1321
• Page End: 1325
• Publication Date: 2021-05-25
• Subjects: microswimmers -- collective behavior -- corrosion -- chemotaxis -- pH gradient; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.05
• DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202100236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-4235

Abstract

Abstract: Numerous artificial micro‐ and nanomotors, as well as various swimmers have been inspired by living organisms that are able to move in a coordinated manner. Their cooperation has also gained a lot of attention because the resulting clusters are able to adapt to changes in their environment and to perform complex tasks. However, mimicking such a collective behavior remains a challenge. In the present work, magnesium microparticles are used as chemotactic swimmers with pronounced collective features, allowing the gradual formation of macroscopic agglomerates. The formed clusters act like a single swimmer able to follow pH gradients. This dynamic behavior can be used to spot localized corrosion events in a straightforward way. The autonomous docking of the swimmers to the corrosion site leads to the formation of a local protection layer, thus increasing corrosion resistance and triggering partial self‐healing. Abstract : Follow the gradient : The collective behavior of magnesium microswimmers is used to identify corrosion by their self‐assembly and docking to the active corrosion spot on an iron rod. The proximity between the resulting microswimmer cluster and the corroding metal further allows slowing down the local corrosion kinetics. The concept can be generalized to other processes where local pH gradients are formed.