ActiveCheerios: 3D-Printed Marangoni-Driven Active Particles at an Interface

Abstract

Marangoni surfers are simple, cost-effective tabletop experiments that, despite their simplicity, exhibit rich dynamics and collective behaviors driven by physicochemical mechanisms, hydrodynamic interactions, and inertial motion. This work introduces self-propelled particles designed and manufactured through 3D printing to move on the air-water interface. We develop particles with tunable motility and controlled particle-particle interactions by leveraging surface tension-mediated forces, such as the Marangoni effect for propulsion and the Cheerios effect for interactions. Rapid prototyping through 3D printing facilitates the exploration of a wide design space, enabling precise control over particle shape and function. We exemplify this by creating translational and chiral particles. Additionally, we investigate self-assembly in this system and highlight its potential for modular designs where mechanically linked particles with varying characteristics follow outlined trajectories. This research offers a flexible, low-cost approach to designing active interfacial systems and opens new possibilities for further advancements of adaptive, multifunctional devices.