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Abstract

We study the hydrodynamics and shape changes of chemically active droplets. In non-spherical droplets, surface tension generates hydrodynamic flows that drive liquid droplets into a spherical shape. Here we show that spherical droplets that are maintained away from thermodynamic equilibrium by chemical reactions may not remain spherical but can undergo a shape instability which can lead to spontaneous droplet division. In this case chemical activity acts against surface tension and tension-induced hydrodynamic flows. By combining low Reynolds-number hydrodynamics with phase separation dynamics and chemical reaction kinetics we determine stability diagrams of spherical droplets as a function of dimensionless viscosity and reaction parameters. We determine concentration and flow fields inside and outside the droplets during shape changes and division. Our work shows that hydrodynamic flows tends to stabilize spherical shapes but that droplet division occurs for sufficiently strong chemical driving, sufficiently large droplet viscosity or sufficiently small surface tension. Active droplets could provide simple models for prebiotic protocells that are able to proliferate. Our work captures the key hydrodynamics of droplet division that could be observable in chemically active colloidal droplets.