Emergent Synchronization and Self-Organization of Autonomous Nanospinners.

Abstract

Autonomous, self-propelled, nanoscale particles, have sparked significant research interest due to their ability to serve as models for understanding the physical principles governing the individual and collective behaviors of living and nonliving systems at low Reynolds numbers. These systems also have many potential applications in drug delivery, environmental remediation, sensing, and oil recovery. However, most research has focused on particles undergoing linear motion, leaving a gap in the understanding of autonomous rotating systems. Addressing this gap would provide crucial insights into the nature of interactions and collective behaviors of rotating systems and enable applications such as nanomixing. In this work, we present the novel design and facile, high yield synthesis of autonomous nanospinners capable of achieving high frequency rotation. We report the evolution of their phase relationships, their emergent synchronization, and the self-organization of multiple spinners, marking a key step toward understanding the emergent behavior of autonomous nanoscale spinners.