Diffusion-based height analysis reveals robust microswimmer-wall separation

Abstract

Microswimmers typically move near walls, which can strongly influence their motion. However, direct experimental measurements of swimmer-wall separation remain elusive to date. Here, we determine this separation for model catalytic microswimmers from the height dependence of the passive component of their mean-squared displacement. We find that swimmers exhibit "ypsotaxis", a tendency to assume a fixed height above the wall for a range of salt concentrations, swimmer surface charges, and swimmer sizes. Our findings indicate that ypsotaxis is activity-induced, posing restrictions on future modeling of their still debated propulsion mechanism.