Acoustically Powered Nano- and Microswimmers: From Individual to Collective Behavior

Micro- and nanoscopic particles that swim autonomously and self-assemble under the influence of chemical fuels and external fields show promise for realizing systems capable of carrying out large-scale, predetermined tasks. Different behaviors can be realized by tuning swimmer interactions at the individual level in a manner analogous to the emergent collective behavior of bacteria and mammalian cells. However, the limited toolbox of weak forces with which to drive these systems has made it difficult to achieve useful collective functions. Here, we review recent research on driving swimming and particle self-organization using acoustic fields, which offers capabilities complementary to those of the other methods used to power microswimmers. With either chemical or acoustic propulsion (or a combination of the two), understanding individual swimming mechanisms and the forces that arise between individual particles is a prerequisite to harnessing their interactions to realize collective phenomena and macroscopic functionality. We discuss here the ingredients necessary to drive the motion of microscopic particles using ultrasound, the theory that describes that behavior, and the gaps in our understanding. We then cover the combination of acoustically powered systems with other cross-compatible driving forces and the use of ultrasound in generating collective behavior. Finally, we highlight the demonstrated applications of acoustically powered microswimmers, and we offer a perspective on the state of the field, open questions, and opportunities. We hope that this review will serve as a guide to students beginning their work in this area and motivate others to consider research in microswimmers and acoustic fields.