Catalytic iridium-based Janus micromotors powered by ultralow levels of chemical fuels.
We describe catalytic micromotors powered by remarkably low concentrations of chemical fuel, down to the 0.0000001% level. These Janus micromotors rely on an iridium hemispheric layer for the catalytic decomposition of hydrazine in connection to SiO2 spherical particles. The micromotors are self-propelled at a very high speed (of ~20 body lengths s(-1)) in a 0.001% hydrazine solution due to osmotic effects. Such a low fuel concentration represents a 10,000-fold decrease in the level required for common catalytic nanomotors. The attractive propulsion performance, efficient catalytic energy-harvesting, environmentally triggered swarming behavior, and magnetic control of the new Janus micromotors hold considerable promise for diverse practical applications.
Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States.
Wei
W
Gao
Allen
A
Pei
Renfeng
R
Dong
Joseph
J
Wang
D056804:Biofuels; D002384:Catalysis; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000737:chemistry; D007495:Iridium / Q000737:chemistry*; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*
D056804:Biofuels; D006834:Hydrazines; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; C029424:hydrazine; D007495:Iridium; D012825:Silicon