Fuel-free light-driven micro/nanomachines: artificial active matter mimicking nature

Villa, Katherine; Pumera, Martin

doi:10.1039/c9cs00090a

Cited by 195 publications

(167 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Basically, some inorganic materials can absorb photon energy and convert it into electric energy to catalyze solution decomposition based on the photoelectric effect [72]. On the contrary, some inorganic salts photolyze into ions under light irradiation [73]. Furthermore, some inorganic materials exhibit a photothermal effect, and photon energy is converted into heat when these materials are irradiated by visible light [74].…”

Section: Inorganic Photoactive Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Light-Harvesting Efficiency and Adaptation: A Review on Visible-Light-Driven Micro/Nanomotors

et al. 2020

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As visible light accounts for a larger proportion of solar energy and is harmless to living organisms, it has the potential to be the energy source of micro/nanomotors, which transform visible-light energy into mechanical motion, for different applications, especially in environmental remediation. However, how to precisely control the motion of visible-light-driven micro/nanomotors (VLD-MNMs) and efficiently utilize the weak visible-light photon energy to acquire rapid motion are significant challenges. This review summarizes the most critical aspects, involving photoactive materials, propulsion mechanisms, control methods, and applications of VLD-MNMs, and discusses strategies to systematically enhance the energy-harvesting efficiency and adaptation. At first, the photoactive materials have been divided into inorganic and organic photoactive materials and comprehensively discussed. Then, different propulsion mechanisms of the current VLD-MNMs are presented to explain the improvement in the actuation force, speed, and environmental adaptability. In addition, considering the characteristics of easy control of VLD-MNMs, we summarized the direction, speed, and cluster control methods of VLD-MNMs for different application requirements. Subsequently, the potential applications of VLD-MNMs, e.g., in environmental remediation, micropumps, cargo delivery, and sensing in microscale, are presented. Finally, discussions and suggestions for future directions to enhance the energy-harvesting efficiency and adaptation of VLD-MNMs are provided.

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Section: Inorganic Photoactive Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Light-Harvesting Efficiency and Adaptation: A Review on Visible-Light-Driven Micro/Nanomotors

et al. 2020

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“…The design of hybrid micromachines capable of harvesting energy from different chemical and physical stimuli has demonstrated to be a promising strategy to achieve higher control over their motion, improved swimming capabilities and versatile motion actuation . Among the different external sources, the use of light to trigger their autonomous motion offers the simple setup with the additional advantage of controlling their movement with spatiotemporal resolution . Furthermore, light‐driven photocatalytic microrobots can simultaneously harvest chemical energy from the environment to generate chemical species, which triggers their interaction with the surroundings by, for example, showing cargo‐transportation capabilities without the need of modifying their surface …”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…[13] Among the differente xternal sources, the use of light to trigger their autonomous motion offers the simple setupw ith the additional advantage of controlling their movement with spatiotemporal resolution. [14] Furthermore, light-driven photocatalytic microrobots can simultaneously harvest chemical energy from the environment to generate chemicals pecies, [15] which triggerst heir interaction with the surroundings by,f or example, showing cargo-transportation capabilities without the need of modifying their surface. [16] Bismuth-based microrobotsp resent the advantage of ah igh biocompatibility.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microrobots in Brewery: Dual Magnetic/Light‐Powered Hybrid Microrobots for Preventing Microbial Contamination in Beer

Villa

Vyskočil

Ying

et al. 2020

Chemistry A European J

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Yeasts play a key role in the production of alcoholic beverages by fermentation processes. However, because of their continuous growth, they commonly cause spoilage of the final product. Herein, we introduce dual magnetic/light‐responsive self‐propelled microrobots that can actively move in a beer sample and capture yeast cells. The presence of magnetic nanoparticles on the surface of the microrobots enables their magnetic actuation under fuel‐free conditions. In addition, their photoactivity under visible‐light irradiation leads to an overall enhancement of their swimming and yeast removal capabilities. It was found that after the application of the microrobots into a real unfiltered beer sample, these micromachines were able to remove almost 100 % of residual yeasts. In addition, these microrobots could also be added at the initial step of the fermentation process without altering the final beer properties, such as alcohol level, color, and pH. This work demonstrates the potential of using externally actuated microrobots as an innovative and low‐cost solution for avoiding yeast spoilage in complex liquid environments, such as alcoholic beverages. Therefore, these autonomous self‐propelled microrobots open new avenues for future applications in the food industry.

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“…[ 6 ] Light irradiation is a handy tool to drive the micro‐/nanomotors due to its remote action, easy and precisely tuneable excitation energy, and reversible on/off operation state. [ 7 ] Accordingly, photoactive micro‐/nanomotors, which can convert the incident light into motion through photocatalytic reactions, are gaining more and more attention. [ 8 ]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multifunctional Visible‐Light Powered Micromotors Based on Semiconducting Sulfur‐ and Nitrogen‐Containing Donor–Acceptor Polymer

Kochergin

Villa

Novotný

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

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Photosensitive micromotors that can be remotely controlled by visible light irradiation demonstrate great potential in biomedical and environmental applications. To date, a vast number of light‐driven micromotors are mainly composed from costly heavy and precious metal‐containing multicomponent systems, that limit the modularity of chemical and physical properties of these materials. Herein, a highly efficient photocatalytic micromotors based exclusively on a purely organic polymer framework—semiconducting sulfur‐ and nitrogen‐containing donor–acceptor polymer, is presented. Thanks to precisely tuned molecular architecture, this material has the ability to absorb visible light due to a conveniently situated energy gap. In addition, the donor‐acceptor dyads within the polymer backbone ensure efficient photoexcited charge separation. Hence, these polymer‐based micromotors can move in aqueous solutions under visible light illumination via a self‐diffusiophoresis mechanism. Moreover, these micromachines can degrade toxic organic pollutants and respond to an increase in acidity of aqueous environments by instantaneous colour change. The combination of autonomous motility and intrinsic fluorescence enables these organic micromotors to be used as colorimetric and optical sensors for monitoring of the environmental aqueous acidity. The current findings open new pathways toward the design of organic polymer‐based micromotors with tuneable band gap architecture for fabrication of self‐propelled microsensors for environmental control and remediation applications.

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Fuel-free light-driven micro/nanomachines: artificial active matter mimicking nature

Abstract: This review covers the main examples of fuel-free light-driven micro/nanomotors and their different swimming styles, highlighting the most important parameters to consider when designing photocatalytic-based devices with a high propulsion efficiency.

Cited by 195 publications

References 49 publications

Enhanced Light-Harvesting Efficiency and Adaptation: A Review on Visible-Light-Driven Micro/Nanomotors

Enhanced Light-Harvesting Efficiency and Adaptation: A Review on Visible-Light-Driven Micro/Nanomotors

Microrobots in Brewery: Dual Magnetic/Light‐Powered Hybrid Microrobots for Preventing Microbial Contamination in Beer

Multifunctional Visible‐Light Powered Micromotors Based on Semiconducting Sulfur‐ and Nitrogen‐Containing Donor–Acceptor Polymer

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