Isotropic Hedgehog-Shaped-TiO2/Functional-Multiwall-Carbon-Nanotube Micromotors with Phototactic Motility in Fuel-Free Environments. 2021

Huaide Jiang, and Xiaoli He, and Yanmei Ma, and Bi Fu, and Xingui Xu, and Balachandran Subramanian, and Chengzhi Hu
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Energy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.

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 μm/s is achieved under 160 mW/cm2 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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