Journal
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
Volume 13, Issue 4, Pages 5406-5417Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c19606
Keywords
Hs-TiO2@FCNTs; isotropic morphology; fuel free propulsion; motion directionality; self-electrophoresis
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [61903177]
- Shenzhen Science and Technology Program [JCYJ20190809144013494]
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In this study, an isotropic light-driven micromotor made of hedgehog-shaped TiO2 and functional multiwall carbon nanotubes (Hs-TiO2@FCNTs) was developed, demonstrating phototactic and fuel-free propulsion under UV light irradiation. The micromotors' isotropic design makes them immune to rotational diffusion and local flows, exhibiting superior directionality.
Directional motion in response to specific signals is critically important for micro/nanomotors in precise cargo transport, obstacle avoidance, collective control, and complex maneuvers. In this work, a kind of isotropic light-driven micromotor that is made of hedgehog-shaped TiO2 and functional multiwall carbon nanotubes (Hs-TiO2@FCNTs) has been developed. The FCNTs are closely entangled with Hs-TiO2 and form a close-knit matrix on the surface of Hs-TiO2, which facilitates the transfer of electrons from Hs-TiO2 to FCNTs. Due to the high redox potential of Hs-TiO2, excellent electron-hole separation efficiency by the addition of FCNTs, and isotropic morphology of the micromotor, these Hs-TiO2@FCNT micromotors show phototactic and fuel-free propulsion under unidirectional irradiation of UV light. It is the first time to demonstrate isotropic micromotors that are propelled by self-electrophoresis. The isotropy of Hs-TiO2@FCNT micromotors makes them immune to the rotational Brownian diffusion and local flows, exhibiting superior directionality. The motion direction of our micromotors can be precisely tuned by light and a velocity of 8.9 mu m/s is achieved under 160 mW/cm(2) UV light illumination. Photodegradation of methylene blue and active transportation of polystyrene beads are demonstrated for a proof-of-concept application of our micromotors. The isotropic design of the Hs-TiO2@FCNT micromotors with enhanced photocatalytic properties unfolds a new paradigm for addressing the limitations of directionality control and chemical fuels in the current asymmetric light-driven micromotors.
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