Acoustic propulsion of nano- and microcones: dependence on particle size, acoustic energy density, and sound frequency

Abstract

Employing acoustofluidic simulations, we study the propulsion of cone-shaped nano- and microparticles by a traveling ultrasound wave. In particular, we investigate how the acoustic propulsion of the particles depends on their size and the energy density and frequency of the ultrasound wave. Our results reveal that the flow field generated around the particles depends on all three of these parameters. The results also show that the propulsion velocity of a particle increases linearly with the particle size and energy density and that an increase of the sound frequency leads to an increase of the propulsion velocity for frequencies below about 1 MHz but to a decrease of the propulsion velocity for larger frequencies. These findings are compared with preliminary results from the literature.