Vol. 1 No. 4 (2026)

Articles

Solvent-Responsive Morphology Planning for Polymer-Assembled Microrotors

Published 2026-08-22

  • Gabriel Leroy
    • ,
  • Manon Perrin

Gabriel Leroy
Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Manon Perrin
Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Data Science and Computational Intelligence, Volume 1, Issue 4, 2026 cover

Abstract

The design and precise control of microscale autonomous systems remain a significant challenge in the field of active matter and microscopic robotics. Among the various propulsion and actuation mechanisms, morphology-dependent hydrodynamic coupling offers a robust pathway for generating sustained motion in low Reynolds number environments. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for the solvent-responsive morphology planning of polymer-assembled microrotors. By utilizing block copolymer self-assembly coupled with controlled emulsion solvent evaporation techniques, we demonstrate how specific solvent interactions can be engineered to trigger predictable morphological transitions. These transitions break the spatial symmetry of the initial spherical polymeric microparticles, dynamically reconfiguring them into chiral or asymmetric rotor geometries capable of sustained rotational motion under uniform external excitation. We systematically investigate the thermodynamic driving forces governing these structural reconfigurations, focusing on phase separation dynamics and interfacial tension variations modulated by solvent affinity. Furthermore, we analyze the kinematic performance of these adaptive microrotors, establishing a direct quantitative correlation between the programmed morphological asymmetry and the resulting rotational frequency and torque generation. The findings provide a foundational methodology for the programmable design of intelligent, shape-shifting colloidal machines with potential applications in targeted cargo delivery, localized microfluidic mixing, and environmentally responsive microsensing networks.

Keywords

Active Matter, Block Copolymers, Microrotors, Morphology Planning, Solvent Responsiveness

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