title: Platinum-paper micromotors: an urchin-like nanohybrid catalyst for green monopropellant bubble-thrusters.
abstract: Platinum nanourchins supported on microfibrilated cellulose films (MFC) were fabricated and evaluated as hydrogen peroxide catalysts for small-scale, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) propulsion systems. The catalytic substrate was synthesized through the reduction of chloroplatinic acid to create a thick film of Pt coral-like microstructures coated with Pt urchin-like nanowires that are arrayed in three dimensions on a two-dimensional MFC film. This organic/inorganic nanohybrid displays high catalytic ability (reduced activation energy of 50-63% over conventional materials and 13-19% for similar Pt nanoparticle-based structures) during hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decomposition as well as sufficient propulsive thrust (>0.5 N) from reagent grade H2O2 (30% w/w) fuel within a small underwater reaction vessel. The results demonstrate that these layered nanohybrid sheets are robust and catalytically effective for green, H2O2-based micro-AUV propulsion where the storage and handling of highly explosive, toxic fuels are prohibitive due to size-requirements, cost limitations, and close person-to-machine contact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University , 2104 Black Engineering, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
authors.forename: Jonathan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Claussen
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Daniele
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geder
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pruessner
authors.forename: Antti J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Melde
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Twigg
authors.forename: Jasenka M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Verbarg
authors.forename: Igor L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Medintz
keywords: autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs); cellulose; hydrogen peroxide; nanowires; platinum; propulsion