title: Template Electrosynthesis of High-Performance Graphene Microengines.
abstract: Template-prepared graphene/Pt and graphene/Au tubular microengines, with extremely high electrocatalytic activity and propulsion efficiency, are described. The new bubble-propelled graphene/metal micromotors are synthesized rapidly and inexpensively by the direct electrodeposition of graphene oxide (GO) within the conical pores of a polycarbonate template membrane followed by deposition of the inner metal layer. The presence of high number of edges and defects in the graphene layer results in highly reactive microporous Pt or Au catalytic structures. The high catalytic activity leads to an ultrafast bubble propulsion (as high as 170 body lengths/sec) and operation at extremely low levels (0.1%) of the peroxide fuel. The effect of such dramatically enhanced catalytic surface area on the bubble growth and motor speed has been theoretically modeled. The template-prepared graphene-based microengines display distinct moving trajectories, along with long microbubble tails. The fast catalytic locomotion and attractive performance of the new graphene/Pt micromotors hold considerable promise for diverse applications.
authors: Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.|Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Aída
authors: A
authors: Martín
authors: Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Jurado-Sánchez
authors: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, E-28871, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Escarpa
authors: Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Wang
keywords: graphene oxide; microengines; micromotors; nanomachines; nanomotors; propulsion; template electrosynthesis