Solute induced jittery motion of self-propelled droplets

The intriguing role of the presence solutes in activity a self-propelling droplet is investigated. A system micrometer-sized 4-Cyano-4?-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) droplets an aqueous solution tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) as surfactant considered. It shown that addition glycerol causes active 5CB to exhibit transition from smooth jittery motion. motion found be independent size and nematic state 5CB. Analogous experiments with Polyacrylamide (PAAm), Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), solutes, confirm such cannot merely explained solely based on viscosity or Peclet number system. We propose specific nature physicochemical interactions between solute interface at root this transition. show timescales associated influx redistribution surfactants are altered solutes. Glycerol PVP significantly enhance rate solubilization resulting quicker re-distribution adsorbed TTAB molecules interface, causing momentarily stop then restart direction. On other hand, low rates PAAm PVA lead trajectories. Our hypothesis supported by time evolution interfacial velocity measurements absence solute. Overall, our results provide fundamental insights into complex emerging due