趋光性自振荡胶的性能和集体行为

As the unique adaptive function of living organisms, phototaxis, i.e. phototropic and photophobic movement, has been gradually understood by biologists. Photo-induced communications among living organisms produce ordered structures and collective dynamics such as synchronization dynamics, traveling waves, self-assembly, self-healing and shape changes. This project will systematically design phototactic gels using oscillatory chemical reactions with nonmonotonic photo-effects on oscillation frequency, light distribution and gel chemotaxis, to study phototatic performance such as movement velocity, direct and retrograde wave locomotion, shape changes and collective behavior. Diverse phototaxis phenomena and collective behavior will be explained and predicted through model simulation and theoretical analysis of reaction-diffusion-mechanics systems. Furthermore, biomimetic and sensing technologies of potential application, including self-healing of phototatic gels, shape control and the target diagnosis in microchannels will be developed in this project.

正负趋光性（也就是向光移动和避光移动）作为生命有机体独特的自适应功能，正在被生物科学工作者逐渐认识和理解，同时光致有机个体之间通信产生集体行为和时空有序结构(如协同运动、传递波、自组装、自愈合和形状改变等)。本项目在非化学反应体系中利用化学振荡、响应胶和空间差异性优化结合来系统设计正负趋光性胶，研究其趋光运动性能(移动速度、胶移动与化学波的传递方向顺逆性等)和形状改变规律, 进一步研究趋光性胶之间通信信号传递和集体行为。通过反应—扩散—力体系的机理模型模拟与分析来理解和预测各种趋光运动性能和集体行为, 同时开发具有应用潜力的仿生和传感技术如趋光性胶仿生自愈合、形变控制和微通道目标诊断。

正负趋光性运动是生命有机体独特的自适应功能，在非生命领域开展机器人趋光运动实验和理论研究有助于推动对其深入认识和理解。本文聚焦光敏BZ(Belozov-Zhabotinsky)自振荡胶软机器人来研究光的运动效应。在设计的光照环境中，调制化学脉冲波波前波后推拉力可使自振荡胶实现顺逆波运动（正负趋光性）转换和自动空间往返运动。进一步利用螺旋波驱动光敏自振荡胶，调制光照实现转角运动和避光性运动。反应-扩散-力模型模拟和分析表明顺逆破运动转变和转角运动的动力学根源来自于复杂振荡的分岔。同时在实验研究中获得类似于植物羽状分裂槟榔树叶结构的光驱化学波周期性生长、毛细管效应引起的趋光运动的化学波反转传播、指示剂和表面活性剂引起的非线性化学反应驱动马克罗尼对流。本课题在PNAS、Science Advance、Angew等学术刊物13篇系列论文，参与出版专著一本。部分工作入选刊物热点论文和被国际媒体如《Phys. Org》、《Chemistry News》亮点报道。