Journal
CHEMPHOTOCHEM
Volume 5, Issue 10, Pages 933-939Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/cptc.202100083
Keywords
heterojunction formation; micromotors; photocatalysis; self-asymmetry; yolk-shell structures; zinc oxide
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Funding
- Volkswagen Foundation for the Freigeist fellowship [91619]
- Kaercher Foundation
- China Scholarship Council
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This study introduces a novel ZnO yolk-shell structure as a photocatalytic micromotor, with self-asymmetry enabling autonomous motion, higher light utilization, and a larger surface area for photocatalytic reactions. The ZnO micromotors also partially transform into ZnO2 when exposed to hydrogen peroxide, forming a beneficial ZnO2/ZnO heterojunction for enhanced photochemical reactions and motion. The combination of yolk-shell structure and ZnO2/ZnO heterojunction formation provides a prospective approach for large-scale asymmetric micromotor fabrication.
Large-scale fabrication of self-propelled micromotors is crucial to reach practical applications, but batch processes in manufacture make it challenging. Here, a novel ZnO yolk-shell structure from large-scale synthesis is introduced as photocatalytic micromotor. The self-asymmetry of the yolk-shell structure enables them to create asymmetric gradients, leading to autonomous motion. Benefiting from the inner void space, the ZnO micromotors possess higher incident light utilization and a larger surface area for photocatalytic reactions. Moreover, when exposed to hydrogen peroxide, ZnO partially transforms into ZnO2 forming a beneficial ZnO2/ZnO heterojunction for separation of photo-generated carriers, enhancing the photochemical reactions and thereby the motion. This combination of yolk-shell structure and ZnO2/ZnO heterojunction formation provides a prospective approach for large-scale asymmetric micromotor fabrication and may open new horizons for designing versatile photocatalytic micromotors.
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