Maze Solving by Chemotactic Droplets

Maze Solving by Chemotactic Droplets

Istavn Lagzi, Siowling Soh, Paul J. Wesson, Kevin P. Browne, Bartosz A. Grzybowski

Journal of the American Chemical Society 2010 132 (4), 1198-1199 doi:10.1021/ja9076793

Droplets emitting surface-active chemicals exhibit chemotaxis toward low-pH regions. Such droplets are self-propelled and navigate through a complex maze to seek a source of acid placed at one of the maze’s exits. In doing so, the droplets find the shortest path through the maze. Chemotaxis and maze solving are due to an interplay between acid/base chemistry and surface tension effects.