Andrew Householder
Pronouns: he/him
Research Mentor(s): Albert Liu
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Chemical Engineering / Engineering
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Authors: Andrew Householder, Sungwan Park, Albert Liu
Abstract
It has been observed that microrobotic colloidal discs can display emergent oscillatory behavior when placed under certain conditions. When placed at the hydrogen peroxide-air interface, two platinum-patched circular discs were observed undergoing oscillatory behavior as a result of catalytic reactions between the platinum and hydrogen peroxide. This behavior is also observed to produce electrical currents from the catalytic surface that could be harvested to power any on-board machinery. Our lab is working to expand upon the present study of emergent dynamics between the two particles at the interface. Our team is in the process of not only replicating these results, but theorizing, developing, and testing alternative configurations that produce either the same result, or new results for the purpose of expanding the potential applications of these phenomena in future microrobotics. The current primary objective is focused on replicating the previously observed oscillatory behavior in water instead of hydrogen peroxide. If we are successful, a whole new realm of applications for this technology becomes available in the medical sphere. This is due to the fact that electrically driven oscillations are a key part of many essential processes in the human body such as the beating of the heart, firing of neurons, and respiration.
