Directed Transport of Interacting Particle Systems： Recent Progress

Recent developments in studies of directed transport processes in interacting particle systems are retrospected. Due to the interactions among elements, the directed transport process exhibits complicated and novel cooperative dynamics. We considered various possibilities in achieving ratchet motion by breaking different symmetries of many-body systems. It is shown that the directional transport can even be induced by breaking the coupling symmetry and the spatiotemporal symmetries.

Collective Directional Transport in Symmetric Periodic Potentials by Breaking the Coupling Symmetry

Collective unidirectional motion of an asymmetrically coupled array of oscillators in symmetric periodic potentials is studied. A directed current is observed when the drift coupling is presented, while no external biased force is applied. Negative directed current is found when varying system parameters. An addition of a periodic rocking force may enhance the efficiency of directed transport. Resonant steps of the current are found and interpreted as the mode locking between the array and the ac force. Noise-assisted transport is observed, and an optimal noise intensity can give rise to a most efficient transport. The directed transport thus can be optimized and furthermore controlled by suitably adjusting the parameters of the system.

Direct Observation of Carrier Transportation Process in InGaAs/GaAs Multiple Quantum Wells Used for Solar Cells and Photodetectors

The resonant excitation is used to generate photo-excited carriers in quantum wells to observe the process of the carriers transportation by comparing the photoluminescence results between quantum wells with and without a p-n junction. It is observed directly in experiment that most of the photo-excited carriers in quantum wells with a p-n junction escape from quantum wells and form photoeurrent rather than relax to the ground state of the quantum wells. The photo absorption coei^cient of multiple quantum wells is also enhanced by a p-n junction. The results pave a novel way for solar cells and photodetectors making use of low-dimensional structure.

Directed transport of coupled Brownian motors in a two-dimensional traveling-wave potential

Considering an elastically coupled Brownian motors system in a two-dimensional traveling-wave potential, we investigate the effects of the angular frequency of the traveling wave, wavelength, coupling strength, free length of the spring, and the noise intensity on the current of the system. It is found that the traveling wave is the essential condition of the directed transport. The current is dominated by the traveling wave and varies nonmonotonically with both the angular frequency and the wavelength. At an optimal angular frequency or wavelength, the current can be optimized. The coupling strength and the free length of the spring can locally modulate the current, especially at small angular frequencies. Moreover, the current decreases rapidly with the increase of the noise intensity, indicating the interference effect of noise on the directed transport.

Controlling the Directed Quantum Transport of Ultracold Atoms in an Optical Lattice with a Periodic Driving Field

We propose a new method to control the directed quantum transport of ultracold atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. In this proposal, the effective tunneling between the neighboring sites can be adjusted via coherent destruction of tunneling by tuning the phase of the external field, instead of using the driving field intensity or the frequency, thus the directed quantum transport of ultracold atoms can be coherently controlled in a nmch easier manner. Our proposal overcomes the major drawback of the method used by Creffield et al [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 （2007） 110501], and can be implemented, in principle, in any one-dimensional optical lattice. Some potential applications of the scheme are also discussed.

Migration-associated secretion of melanoma inhibitory activity at the cell rear is supported by KCa3.1 potassium channels

Malignant melanoma, characterized by invasive local growth and early formation of metastases, is the most aggressive type of skin cancer. Melanoma inhibitory activity （MIA）, secreted by malignant melanoma cells, interacts with the cell adhesion receptors, integrins a4131 and 05131, facilitating cell detachment and promoting formation of me- tastases. In the present study, we demonstrate that MIA secretion is confined to the rear end of migrating cells, while in non-migrating cells MIA accumulates in the actin cortex. MIA protein takes a conventional secretory pathway including coat protein complex I （COPI）- and coat protein complex II （COPII）-dependent protein transport to the cell periphery, where its final release depends on intracellular Ca2＋ ions. Interestingly, the Ca2＋-activated K＋-channel, subfamily N, member 4 （KCa3.1）, known to be active at the rear end of migrating cells, was found to support MIA secretion. Secretion was diminished by the specific KCa3.1 channel inhibitor TRAM-34 and by expression of dominant- negative mutants of the channel. In summary, we have elucidated the migration-associated transport of MIA protein to the cell rear and also disclosed a new mechanism by which KCa3.1 potassium channels promote cell migration.

Bioinspired Stable Single‑Layer Janus Fabric with Directional Water/Moisture Transport Property for Integrated Personal Cooling Management

Extensive progress has been achieved regarding Janus fabric for directional water transport due to its excellent and feasible personal cooling management ability,which has great significance for energy conservation,pollution reduction,and human health.However,existing Janus asymmetric multilayer fabrics for directional water transport are still limited by their com-plicated syntheses and poor stabilities.Inspired by the compositionally graded architecture of leaf cuticles,we propose a single-layer Janus personal cooling management fabric(JPCMF)via a one-step electrospinning method.The JPCMF shows not only great directional bulk water transport ability but also asymmetry moisture(water vapor)transport ability with a high asymmetry factor(1.49),water vapor transmission value(18.5 kg^(-1) m-2 D-1),and water evaporation rate(0.735 g h^(-1)).Importantly,the JPCMF exhibits outstanding durability and stability thanks to a novel electrostatic adsorption-assisted self-adhesion strategy for resisting abrasion,peeling and pulling.With these characteristics,the JPCMF can achieve a 4.0°C personal cooling management effect,better than taht of cotton fabric,on wet skin.The good biocompatibility and nontoxic-ity also endow the JPCMF with the potential to be a self-pumping dressing.Our strategy should facilitate a new method for developing next-generation intelligent multifunctional fabrics.

Brownian Ratchet Driven by a Rocking Forcing with Broken Temporal Symmetry

The ratchet motion of a Brownian particle in a symmetric periodic potential under a rocking force thatbreaks the temporal symmetry is studied. As long as the relaxation time in the thermal background is much shorter thanthe forcing period, the unidirectional transport can be analytically treated. By solving the Fokker-Planck equations, weget an analytical expression of the current. This result indicates that with an appropriate match between the potentialfield, the asymmetric ac force and the thermal noise, a net current can be achieved. The current versus thermal noiseexhibits a stochastic-resonance-like behavior.

Bioinspired directional liquid transport induced by the corner effect

Many natural creatures have demonstrated unique abilities in directional liquid transport(DLT)for better adapting to the local environment,which,for a long time,have inspired the material fabrication for applications in microfluidics,self-cleaning,water collection,etc.Recently,DLTs aroused by the corner effect have been witnessed in various natural organisms,where liquid transports/spreads spontaneously along the corner structures in microgrooves,wedges or conical structures driven by micro-/nano-scaled capillary forces without external energy input.Particularly,these DLTs show advantages of ultrahigh speed,continuous proceeding,and/or external controllability.Here,we reviewed recent research advances on the bioinspired DLTs induced by the corner effect,as well as the involved mechanisms and the artificial counterpart materials with various applications.We also introduced some bioinspired materials that are capable of stimulus-responsive DLT under external fields.Finally,we suggested perspectives of the bioinspired DLTs in liquid manipulations.

Biased Motion in a Symmetric Periodic Potential by Breaking Temporal Sysmmetry

Unidirectional transport of a particle in a spatially periodic and symmetric potential under a periodic force with broken temporal symmetry is studied. With a collaboration of the potential field and the asymmetric ac force, a dc current can be observed. Resonant current steps are found for a finite period of the ac force. A phase diagram of these resonant steps is given. Stochastic-resonance-like directional transport induced by thermal noises is revealed.

Drop impact dynamic and directional transport on dragonfly wing surface

The ability of dragonflies to fly in the rain without being wetted by raindrops has motivated researchers to investigate the impact behavior of a drop on the superhydrophobic wings of dragonflies.This superhydrophobic surface is used as a reference for the design of directional surfaces and has attracted extensive attention owing to its wide applicability in microfluidics,self-cleaning,and other fields.In this study,the static contact angle and rebound process of a drop impacting a dragonfly wing surface are investigated experimentally,whereas the wetting pressure,Gibbs free energy,and Stokes number vs.coefficient of restitution are theoretically calculated to examine the dynamic and unidirectional transport behaviors of the drop.Results show that the initial inclination angle of the dragonfly wing is similar to the sliding angles along with the drop sliding.The water drop bounces from the bottom of the dragonfly wing to the distal position,demonstrating directional migration.The drop impacts the dragonfly wing surface,and the drop exhibits compression,recovery,and separation phases;in these three phases,the drop morphology evolves.As the Gibbs free energy and cross-sectional area evolve,the coefficient of restitution decreases as the drop continues to bounce,and the Stokes number increases.

An active bacterial anti-adhesion strategy based on directional transportation of bacterial droplets driven by triboelectric nanogenerators

An active bacterial anti-adhesion strategy based on directional transportation of bacterial droplets driven by a triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)has not been reported to date,although passive defense approaches can prevent bacterial adhesion by regulating superwetting surfaces combined with incorporated antibacterial substances.Here a triboelectric nanogenerator driving droplet system(TNDDS)was built to drive directional transportation of bacterial droplets to be eliminated,which comprises TENG with periodical frictional Kapton film and aluminum foils and a superhydrophobic driving platform(SDP)with paralleled driving electrodes.The current generated by the TENG triboelectricity is transmitted to the paralleled driving electrodes to form an electric field driving the directional transportation of charged droplets.The critical value of the driven droplet volume on SDP is closely related to the distributed electrodes’distance and width,and the driving distance of droplets is related to the number of electrodes.More crucially,TNDDS can actively drive the charged droplets of prepared triangular silver nanoprisms(Ag NPs)forward and back to mix with and remove a tiny bacterial droplet on an open SDP or in a tiny semi-enclosed channel.Bacteria could be killed by releasing Ag+and effectively removed by TNDDS by regulating the motion direction.Generally,this approach offers a promising application for removing bacteria from material surfaces driven by TENG and opens a new avenue for bacterial anti-adhesion.

Regulating ion transport behaviors toward dendrite-free potassium metal batteries:recent advances and perspectives

With abundant potassium resources and high capacity,potassium metal batteries(PMBs)present a compelling option for the next generation of energy storage technology.However,PMBs suffer from an unstable anode interface caused by uncontrolled dendrite growth,which results in unsatisfactory cyclability and safety concerns.Extensive investigations suggest that significant progress has been made in enhancing the interfacial stability of PMBs.The various effective strategies for stabilizing interfaces can ultimately be attributed to the regulation of the sluggish ion transfer kinetics and irregular deposition,i.e.,the arrangement of ion transport behaviors at the interface.Rational modulation of ions transport rate and ions deposition directions makes it possible to obtain a dendrite-free and smooth deposition plane.Herein,the influencing factors and action mechanism of K^(+)interface transport behaviors are discussed to understand the nature of material design for constructing stable anode interfaces,including regulating the solvation and desolvation structures,accelerating K^(+)transport kinetics and controlling K^(+)deposition direction.In addition,the deficiencies and prospects of the research on electrolyte,separators and designed electrode involved in the manufacturing and testing and ion transport process of PMBs are discussed.This review is expected to provide some possible directions for constructing dendrite-free interfaces in advanced PMBs-related research and offer significant insights for prospective experimental research and commercial applications.

Smart Cellulose‑Based Janus Fabrics with Switchable Liquid Transportation for Personal Moisture and Thermal Management

The Janus fabrics designed for personal moisture/thermal regulation have garnered significant attention for their potential to enhance human comfort.However,the development of smart and dynamic fabrics capable of managing personal moisture/thermal comfort in response to changing external environments remains a challenge.Herein,a smart cellulose-based Janus fabric was designed to dynamically manage personal moisture/heat.The cotton fabric was grafted with N-isopropylacrylamide to construct a temperature-stimulated transport channel.Subsequently,hydrophobic ethyl cellulose and hydrophilic cellulose nanofiber were sprayed on the bottom and top sides of the fabric to obtain wettability gradient.The fabric exhibits anti-gravity directional liquid transportation from hydrophobic side to hydrophilic side,and can dynamically and continuously control the transportation time in a wide range of 3–66 s as the temperature increases from 10 to 40℃.This smart fabric can quickly dissipate heat at high temperatures,while at low temperatures,it can slow down the heat dissipation rate and prevent the human from becoming too cold.In addition,the fabric has UV shielding and photodynamic antibacterial properties through depositing graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets on the hydrophilic side.This smart fabric offers an innovative approach to maximizing personal comfort in environments with significant temperature variations.

Biomimetic directional transport for sustainable liquid usage

Through hundreds of millions of evolution,animals and plants have possessed their unique structures to adapt to natural variations.As a familiar process,liquid transportation plays an important part in both production and life,and researchers focus on how to achieve this process in a convenient and efficient way without energy input.Inspired by nature,various bioinspired structures are reported and have won multiple achievements.This review starts from basic theory about surface wettability,and then summarises the creatures with special liquid transport functions as well as crucial structures that cause this phenomenon.Next,the recent articles about transporting liquid by bioinspired materials are introduced.Finally,we proposed a brief conclusion and the prospect of bionic materials in the future.