Self-Propelled Supracolloidal Fibers from Multifunctional Polymer Surfactants and Droplets. Author Jing Zhao, Cristiam Chalarca, Janine Nunes, Howard Stone, Todd Emrick Publication Year 2020 Type Journal Article Abstract Advanced synthetic materials are needed to produce nano- and mesoscale structures that function autonomously, catalyze reactions, and convert chemical energy into motion. This paper describes supracolloidal fiber-like structures that are composed of self-adhering, or "sticky," oil-in-water emulsion droplets. Polymer zwitterion surfactants serve as the key interfacial components of these materials, enabling multiple functions simultaneously, including acting as droplet-stabilizing surfactants, interdroplet adhesives, and building blocks of the fibers. This fiber motion, a surprising additional feature of these supracolloidal structures, is observed at the air-water interface and hinged on the chemistry of the polymer surfactant. The origin of this motion is hypothesized to involve transport of polymer from the oil-water interface to the air-water interface, which generates a Marangoni (interfacial) stress. Harnessing this fiber motion with functional polymer surfactants, and selection of the oil phase, produced worm-like objects capable of rotation, oscillation, and/or response to external fields. Overall, these supracolloidal fibers fill a design gap between self-propelled nano/microscale particles and macroscale motors, and have the potential to serve as new components of soft, responsive materials structures. Keywords Microscopy, Fluorescence, Light, Motion, Models, Chemical, Surface Properties, Benzopyrans, Surface-Active Agents, Water, Ultraviolet Rays, Indoles, Surface Tension, Polymers, Emulsions, Hexanes, Materials Science, Nitro Compounds Journal Macromol Rapid Commun Volume 41 Issue 15 Pages e2000334 Date Published 2020 Aug ISSN Number 1521-3927 DOI 10.1002/marc.202000334 Alternate Journal Macromol Rapid Commun PMID 32671939 PubMedGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML